At least 20 people have died and another 290 have been injured, dozens of them seriously, in the explosion of a fuel tank on Monday in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian enclave belonging to Azerbaijan, which has been occupied by the Azeri army. after the brief war that, last week, led the Karabakh Armenians to capitulation, according to the Armenian authorities.
The explosion occurred in Berkadzor, near the highway linking the regional capital, Stepanakert (Jankendi for Azerbaijanis) with the city of Askeran. On the road there were a large number of cars with Karabakhs who want to leave the enclave after the military defeat. The self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh is witnessing an exodus that until Tuesday morning numbered at least 13,550 people, according to the Armenian Government. They flee for fear of retaliation by Azeri troops.
Emergency services are participating in the rescue efforts and have already transferred numerous injured people to the nearest hospitals.
The Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinián, assured that Yerevan is willing to welcome all Karabakhis who want to leave said territory.
US President Joe Biden offered humanitarian assistance to Pashinián in a telegram sent to him by Samantha Power, the head of the US Agency for Development (USAID).
