At least 14 people were killed and 11 injured when a temporary weapons and ammunition depot near Sarmada in Idlib province exploded on Wednesday. The Syrian Defence Ministry said the site had been used to collect arms and war remnants before transport, and several military personnel were among the wounded. Rescue teams continue to search the site and assess damage, while officials warn the casualty toll could rise. The blast follows another recent depot explosion in Binnish, underscoring growing civilian safety concerns over leftover munitions in Idlib and Aleppo.
14 Killed, 11 Injured in Massive Explosion at Idlib Weapons Depot Near Sarmada
A view of a massive explosion at an arms depot, that led to the death and injury of several people. The explosion marks the second explosion of an ammunition depot in the north of the country this month. (is associated with: «Massive blast at weapons depot in Syria kills 14») Moawia Atrash/dpa
At least 14 people were killed and 11 others injured on Wednesday when an explosion tore through a weapons and ammunition depot near the town of Sarmada in Syria's northwest Idlib province, local officials said.
The Idlib Media Directorate cautioned that the casualty toll could still rise as rescue teams continue searching the site and recovering victims.
The Syrian Defence Ministry said the blast hit a temporary depot used to collect weapons and remnants of war prior to their transport elsewhere. The ministry added that several military personnel were among the wounded and that units were coordinating with local authorities to secure the area.
A medical source in Sarmada initially reported eight injuries before later counts increased as emergency responders expanded their search and assessment operations. Rescue and emergency teams have been working to locate survivors, treat the injured and evaluate structural and environmental damage at the scene.
Context and Concerns
The incident follows a similar explosion days earlier at a weapons depot in the Idlib town of Binnish. Idlib and neighbouring Aleppo provinces have seen multiple detonations at arms and ammunition storage sites in recent years, prompting growing alarm over the dangers posed to civilians by leftover munitions and remnants of war from Syria's prolonged conflict.
Authorities have not publicly released a definitive cause for the Sarmada blast. Investigations and damage assessments are ongoing, and local officials say the final death and injury figures could change.
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