In a tragic incident, at least 20 people were killed and nearly 300 others sustained injuries following an explosion at a crowded gas station in Nagorno-Karabakh, separatist authorities in the region said Tuesday.
This incident unfolded against the backdrop of a frenzied exodus, as thousands of individuals desperately attempted to cross into neighboring Armenia.
As per reports, people anxiously queued up to fill their vehicles with fuel, all while the specter of uncertainty loomed large.
At least 290 people sustained injuries with numerous individuals still fighting for their lives in critical condition.
Following the news, Armenia's health ministry mobilized a helicopter to transport some of the blast victims to safety, with plans for additional flights in the pipeline.
Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev, in an announcement via social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), assured that hospitals within Azerbaijan stood prepared to provide medical care to victims. However, it remained uncertain whether any injured individuals had reached these facilities.
Moreover, Azerbaijan dispatched burn-treatment medicine and humanitarian aid to assist those affected by the catastrophe.
Armenia's government, on Tuesday morning, disclosed that over 13,500 people, representing approximately 12% of the region's population, had fled across the border.
This sudden upheaval followed Azerbaijan's swift and decisive military operation aimed at reclaiming the territory after enduring nearly three decades of separatist governance.
