At least 14 people have been killed and 11 injured after an explosion at a temporary weapons depot near Sarmada in Syria’s north-western Idlib province.
The blast struck the Burj al-Nimra area on Wednesday, according to Syria’s official news agency, which said the facility was being used to gather weapons and remnants of war before they were moved elsewhere. The death toll was described as provisional and could rise.
Subhi Assaf, a senior official at the Idlib Health Directorate, said the injured had suffered mainly light to moderate wounds. Rescue and emergency crews continued searching the site for people who may have been trapped beneath the rubble. ([sana.sy](https://sana.sy/governorates/2576645/?utm_source=openai))
Syria’s Defence Ministry said several of its personnel were among those injured. Its units were working with other authorities to secure the area, while emergency teams tackled fires and dealt with unexploded munitions left at the scene. ([sana.sy](https://sana.sy/governorates/2576645/?utm_source=openai))
The cause of the explosion has not been established. Images carried by Syrian media showed heavy smoke rising from the site as rescuers and ambulances arrived.
The incident came days after an explosion involving a vehicle carrying ammunition in the nearby town of Binnish, which killed at least five people and injured others.
Idlib and neighbouring Aleppo province have experienced repeated blasts at weapons and ammunition storage sites in recent years, highlighting the continuing danger posed by arms and war remnants left behind by Syria’s prolonged conflict.
