At least 14 people were killed and 11 others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a temporary weapons storage facility near the northern Syrian city of Sarmada in Idlib province on Wednesday, according to Syrian authorities.
The blast occurred at a site being used to store weapons and remnants of war collected from conflict zones before their transfer to another location. The facility was situated near Sarmada, one of the largest commercial and population centres in northwestern Syria.
In a statement, the Syrian Defence Ministry said all 14 fatalities were ministry personnel. The wounded included both security personnel and civilians living nearby. Authorities said emergency units were dispatched immediately after the explosion to secure the area and assist victims.
The force of the blast triggered a major fire and sent thick plumes of smoke into the sky, visible from surrounding areas. Civil defence teams and firefighters rushed to the scene, but rescue operations were complicated by a series of secondary explosions that continued for hours after the initial detonation.
Officials have not yet determined what caused the explosion.
Emergency crews faced significant challenges while responding to the incident, as ammunition and explosive materials stored at the site continued to detonate.
Security forces closed roads leading to the area to prevent civilians from approaching the danger zone and to allow rescue teams to operate more safely.
Medical officials said casualties were transported to nearby hospitals, where some of the injured were reported to be in moderate condition. Search teams also combed through debris and damaged structures amid concerns that additional victims could be trapped beneath the rubble.
The Defence Ministry said specialised units had begun working with other authorities to contain the aftermath and assess the scale of the damage.
Syrian officials have launched an investigation into the incident and said efforts are under way to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
The ministry stated that it was assuming responsibility for the site and pledged full cooperation with investigators. It also extended condolences to the families of those killed.
The incident highlights the continuing risks posed by large quantities of weapons, ammunition and unexploded remnants of war that remain scattered across Syria after years of conflict.
The explosion is the latest in a series of deadly incidents involving weapons and ammunition storage in Idlib province.
Earlier this month, an ammunition-laden vehicle exploded in the city of Binnish, also located in Idlib province. That blast killed five people and injured several others, according to Syrian state media.
The back-to-back incidents have raised concerns about the handling and storage of military equipment and war remnants in areas still recovering from years of violence.
As investigators work to determine the cause of the Sarmada explosion, attention is likely to focus on safety procedures governing the collection, transportation and storage of explosive materials across the region.
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