The explosion on Monday of a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh left at least 170 dead, according to a new report released on Friday, September 29, by the separatist authorities. “The remains of human bodies of 170 people have been found to date (…) and handed over to the forensic examination office,” said the emergency situations department of the Ministry of the Interior of the enclave in a press release, relayed by Armenpress, the main state press agency in Armenia.
This explosion occurred at a time when many residents had taken the road of exodus since Azerbaijan’s lightning victory on Wednesday September 20 in this enclave mainly populated by Armenians. Attached in 1921 to Azerbaijan by the he USSR, Nagorno-Karabakh, 13% of Azerbaijani territory, de facto escaped the power of Baku. This small mountainous territory had some 120,000 inhabitants, according to the latest available figures.
An initial report on Monday showed more than 200 injured. “Most are in serious or very serious condition,” the self-proclaimed republic’s human rights officer, Gegham Stepanian, said on social media, asking for external assistance. “[Nagorno-Karabakh’s] medical possibilities are insufficient. Medical planes must land as quickly as possible to save lives,” added this official.
