Syria: Violent explosion in Idlib leaves dead and civilian injuries and widespread destruction

The western region of the city of Idlib witnessed a massive explosion today, Thursday, August 14, resulting from the detonation of an arms depot, followed by a series of successive explosions due to the burning of stored ammunition and explosives, leading to injuries among civilians, according to local sources and the Syrian Civil Defense teams.

The Syrian Civil Defense teams confirmed that the explosion caused multiple injuries, noting that their crews immediately moved to the site of the incident to rescue the injured, while reports emerged of people trapped under the rubble of the collapsed building.

Local activists published photos and videos showing a thick cloud of smoke covering the sky of the area, in addition to the extensive destruction caused by the explosion. The Idlib Health Directorate reported that the nearby camps and villages were affected by the incident, necessitating the transfer of the injured to several medical centers in the province.

According to the Idlib Health Directorate, the explosion has so far resulted in 4 deaths and 4 injuries, in a preliminary toll of the incident.

It is worth mentioning that this incident comes just weeks after a similar explosion occurred on July 24 near the town of Maaret Misrin in the Idlib countryside, resulting in the deaths of 7 people and injuries to more than 100 others.

For its part, the Syrian Ministry of Interior announced in a previous statement _following the previous explosion_ that it had opened an "urgent and comprehensive investigation" to uncover the circumstances of the incident, emphasizing that "protecting civilians and the safety of citizens is one of its priorities," and promised to take the necessary measures to "prevent the recurrence of such incidents."

The ministry expressed its "deep sorrow and grief" over the human and material losses, stressing that it "will work in coordination with the relevant authorities to hold accountable those responsible, regardless of their status."

So far, no official party has announced any new details regarding the investigations or the exact number of casualties in the recent explosion.