At least 14 people were killed and 11 others wounded on Wednesday after an explosion at a weapons warehouse in northwestern Syria, according to state media citing the Health Ministry. The blast occurred near the town of Sarmada in Idlib province, an area that has been affected by years of conflict and the presence of unexploded or abandoned military materials.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately established. Authorities were investigating the circumstances surrounding the blast as emergency teams responded to the scene. Incidents involving stored weapons and leftover munitions remain a continuing danger in parts of Syria following more than a decade of armed conflict.

State-run SANA news agency, citing the Defense Ministry, reported that the warehouse had been used to store weapons and munitions left over from the uprising and civil war that began in 2011 and continued through 2024. The report did not provide further information about who controlled the facility or what type of weapons and ammunition were stored there.

Also Read: 7 Killed In Explosion At Amur Gas Complex Linked To Major Russia-China Energy Project

Civil Defense teams and the Syrian Red Crescent were conducting search operations at the site following the explosion. First responders were looking for people who may have been trapped beneath the rubble while also working to secure the affected area. A photographer from The Associated Press at the scene reported that bodies were being recovered as rescue operations continued.

The blast also caused smaller explosions in the area, according to reports from the scene. Footage circulated after the incident showed a large plume of black smoke rising from the location, while additional blasts could be heard. The extent of damage to nearby buildings and infrastructure was not immediately detailed by authorities.

The explosion highlights the risks posed by weapons and munitions left behind after years of fighting in Syria. With large quantities of military material having been used or stored during the conflict, accidents involving abandoned or ageing weapons remain a concern in areas previously affected by hostilities.

Also Read: Security Official Killed, 6 Injured In Roadside Explosion In Pakistan’s Balochistan