Nagorno-Karabakh: at least 20 killed and hundreds injured after blast at fuel depot

At least 20 people have been killed and almost 300 injured in a powerful explosion at a fuel storage depot in the Nagorno-Karabakh region as thousands of ethnic Armenians streamed out of the breakaway territory after the Azerbaijani military reclaimed full control of it in a lightning offensive last week.

Local Armenian authorities said 290 people were admitted to hospitals, dozens of them “still in critical condition” after the blast at the facility near the regional capital of Stepanakert on Monday evening.

The cause of the blast remains unknown.

Reuters was able to pinpoint the location of the landscape, buildings and structures seen on satellite images of the fire as the region of Berkadzor, about 6 km (3.7 miles) outside Stepanakert, but was not able to verify the timing.

Dozens of people had been lining up at the facility where the blast occurred because they had been promised fuel – a scarcity during the 10-month blockade by Azerbaijan that has also led to desperate shortages of food and water – according to Nagorno-Karabakh’s separatist authorities.

The Azerbaijani military routed Armenian forces in a 24-hour blitz last week, forcing the separatist authorities to agree to lay down weapons and start talks on Nagorno-Karabakh’s “reintegration” into Azerbaijan after three decades of separatist rule.

While Azerbaijan has pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians in the region and restore supplies after a 10-month blockade, many local residents feared reprisals and decided to leave for Armenia.

The Armenian government said that more 13,550 Nagorno-Karabakh residents had fled to Armenia as of Tuesday morning. Moscow said that Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh were assisting the evacuation. About 700 people remained in the peacekeepers’ camp on Monday night.

The explosion took place hours after the second round of talks between Azerbaijani officials and separatist representatives were held in the town of Khojaly, just north of the Nagorno-Karabakh capital. The first round was held last week. Azerbaijan’s presidential office said in a statement that the talks were held “in a constructive atmosphere” and that discussion focused on humanitarian aid to the region and medical services.

Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said on Monday that two of its soldiers were killed a day earlier when a military truck hit a landmine. It didn’t name the area where the explosion occurred.

In an address to the nation Sunday, Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan said his government was working with international partners to protect the rights and security of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“If these efforts do not produce concrete results, the government will welcome our sisters and brothers from Nagorno-Karabakh in the Republic of Armenia with every care,” he said.

Russian peacekeepers have been in the region since 2020, when a Russian-brokered armistice ended a six-week war between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan and many others in Armenia accused the peacekeepers of failing to prevent the hostilities and protect the Armenian population. Moscow has rejected the accusations, arguing that its forces had no legal grounds to intervene, particularly after Pashinyan’s recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.