On 25 September 2023, at about 19:00 ( UTC+4), an

explosion An explosion is a rapid expansion in volume associated with an extreme outward release of energy, usually with the generation of high temperatures and release of high-pressure gases. Supersonic explosions created by high explosives are known ...

at a

fuel depot An oil terminal (also called a tank farm, tankfarm, oil installation or oil depot) is an industrial facility for the storage of oil, petroleum and petrochemical products, and from which these Petroleum product, products are transported to end u ...

in Berkadzor near

Stepanakert / az, Xankəndi, italic=no , settlement_type = City , image_skyline = File:StepanakertCollage.jpg , imagesize = 300px , image_caption = From top left: Holy Mother ...

, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the deaths of at least 218 people and 120 injuries. The explosion occurred amidst the chaotic exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, following a major military offensive launched by Azerbaijan against the unrecognized

Republic of Artsakh Artsakh, officially the Republic of Artsakh () or the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (),, is a list of states with limited recognition, breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan ...

Explosion

The explosion occurred during the mass exodus of thousands of ethnic Armenians from the region, following Azerbaijan's large-scale military offensive launched a week earlier against the

self-declared Self-proclaimed describes a legal title that is recognized by the declaring person but not necessarily by any recognized legal authority. It can be the status of a noble title or the status of a nation. The term is used informally for anyone declari ...

. Prior to the offensive, the region had been subjected to a months-long blockade by Azerbaijan, causing shortages of essential supplies, including fuel. After the offensive, petrol stations became overwhelmed by the volume of people seeking to leave the region. At the moment of the explosion, hundreds of people were gathered at the station. Samvel Shahramanyan, the president of the de-facto

Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh Artsakh, officially the Republic of Artsakh () or the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (),, is a breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Artsakh controls a part of the former N ...

, said that the blast was caused by a violation of safety rules in the underground depot that was used for storage of gasoline for the local military.

Reactions

Following the explosion, nearly 300 people were admitted to hospitals. Local authorities requested urgent medical aid from Armenia, citing Stepanakert's local strained hospitals being unable to provide adequate care. Armenia initiated an airlift using helicopters, sending doctors to the region and evacuating injured patients to Armenia. Azerbaijan also sent medical supplies. According to Al Jazeera's correspondent in the Azerbaijani city of Horadiz, local hospitals in

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...

were prepared, and negotiations began for evacuating the injured, but representatives of the Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh declined the proposal. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the

United States National Security Council The United States National Security Council (NSC) is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for consideration of national security, military, and foreign policy matters. Based in the White House, it is part of the Execu ...

, offered condolences for the victims and urged the need for humanitarian access to the region. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey expressed condolences regarding the explosion and Turkey's readiness to provide assistance.

References

Explosions in 2023 2023 disasters in Asia September 2023 events in Asia 2023 disasters in Europe September 2023 events in Europe 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh {{Artsakh-stub