Death toll from Yerevan explosion rises to 15
The press service of the Armenia emergencies ministry issues an update on the death toll of Sunday's explosion.
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People help firefighters to extinguish a fire after blasts ripped through a fireworks warehouse in Yerevan, Armenia August 14, 2022. (Reuters)
The death toll from the explosions at a fireworks warehouse in Yerevan's Surmalu wholesale market on Sunday has risen to 15, according to the press service of the Armenia emergencies ministry.
"During the rescue operation, rescuers of the emergencies ministry have retrieved bodies of 15 people, including one child," according to the statement.
The bodies of nine victims have not been identified: Another 18 are missing.
On Sunday, video footage from the Surmalu market showed plumes of grey smoke floating over a building as people hurriedly back away from the scene.
Armenian rescue workers looked through deformed metal and rubble searching for survivors, while bystanders helped victims move to safety.
“Fireworks, fireworks — everything shattered in one minute,” said one witness. “People could not get out of the stores.”
The Ministry of Emergency Situations issued a statement revealing that preliminary information indicated that two large explosions had partially brought down a building containing fireworks, igniting a fire. However, it did not mention how the fireworks were detonated.
According to yesterday's update, the blast left 61 people injured and 16 missing.
