Terror in the commercial zone of Yerevan, this Sunday. In the capital of Armenia, an explosion on Sunday left at least one dead and twenty injured. “According to preliminary data, an explosion occurred which started a fire,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement.
The origin of the explosion, which occurred in the early afternoon at the Surmalu wholesale market, was not immediately known. Videos and photos circulating on social media showed a thick column of black smoke rising into the sky. On a video, you could hear several explosions in succession, like the crackling of fireworks. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, ten fire engines intervened on the spot and ten others were on the way to lend a hand.
A still distant peace
A small Caucasian country of about three million people, Armenia has been going through a difficult period since a 2020 war against neighboring Azerbaijan that ended in heavy defeat and a major political crisis. More than 6,500 people were killed in this new war and Armenia had to cede entire swaths of territory it controlled.
Last July, the first talks were held in Georgia between the two countries. These discussions are part of a European mediation aimed at advancing towards a peace treaty.