An explosion occurred at a gas station in the city of Stepanakert, the capital of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Reuters reported, citing local media, that more than 200 people were injured as a result of the explosion.
The explosion occurred Monday near the Stepanakert-Askeran highway in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is not recognized by other countries, Radio Free Europe reported. He added that the authorities of the separatist region reported that those suffering from burns had been transferred to hospitals for treatment.
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Nagorno-Karabakh Ombudsman Gigam Stepanyan said most of the injured were in serious condition. He added that they had to be flown to another location because local hospitals were unable to provide them with proper care.
Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
In Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-majority enclave in Azerbaijan’s legal territory, fighting broke out on September 19 at the initiative of Azerbaijan. His forces quickly dealt with the defending Armenians. On September 21, a ceasefire was announced.
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The Armenian government announced on Monday morning that several thousand Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh have already arrived in the country. Authorities in Yerevan say they fear ethnic cleansing after the government in Baku regains full control of the enclave.
The Azerbaijani authorities stated that anyone who wants to leave the enclave seized by Baku and go to Armenia will be given this opportunity and free fuel. There were traffic jams on the roads leading from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.
Reuters, Radio Free Europe, PAP
