Explosion at Nagorno-Karabakh Fuel Depot Claims 20 Lives as Refugee Number Doubles

An explosion at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan has resulted in the death of 20 people and left hundreds injured, according to local Armenian authorities. Approximately 300 individuals have been admitted to hospitals, with many in critical condition. The cause of the explosion in Stepanakert, the region's main city, is still unknown. Armenian authorities reported that 13,350 refugees have entered the country from Nagorno-Karabakh amidst the ongoing conflict. The region, which is home to the majority of the area's 120,000 ethnic Armenians, has been a point of contention between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since the seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan, thousands have left the area due to the fighting. Armenia's Prime Minister has accused Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing in the region. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, has expressed its desire to integrate ethnic Armenians as equal citizens. Envoys from both countries are set to meet in Brussels for talks, marking the first diplomatic discussions since Azerbaijan's seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh. The region has been internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has been controlled by ethnic Armenians for decades. The conflict has resulted in casualties on both sides, including Russian peacekeepers, and concerns have been raised about the well-being of the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, who have limited access to aid.