According to official information, a serious explosion at a shopping center in the Republic of Armenia in the South Caucasus killed at least two and injured 60 others. The blast happened just outside the center of the capital Yerevan. According to the first information, a camp with fireworks has exploded. A gas pipe exploded.
The explosion on Sunday afternoon (local time) was massive. Many people have run away from the scene of the accident for their lives. The authorities assumed that careless handling of fire was the cause.
Smoke cloud over city
Several buildings on the wholesale site collapsed or were damaged. Rescuers say there may still be people under the rubble. Even after hours, the fire was not extinguished. A cloud of smoke spread over the city. Dust and debris settled on cars. More than 60 people were injured, according to the Ministry of Health. About a dozen of them were children.
Multiple bomb threats after explosion
A few hours after the explosion, the country’s civil defenses received several bomb threats. After that, bombs were placed in Yerevan’s metro, parliament and other buildings. Passengers had to leave the metro. Specialists searched the stations, but found no explosives. There was no information about a connection between the events.
The former Soviet Republic of Armenia in the South Caucasus, bordering Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, is one of the poorest countries in the region. Time and again there are violations of basic safety regulations. Rescue workers and fire brigade were deployed without masks. Armenia is in military conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
