An explosion in Syria’s coastal city of Latakia killed at least 16 people and injured 18 others when unexploded ordnance from the country’s ongoing civil war detonated on Saturday. The blast, which collapsed a building in the southern neighborhood of Al-Rimal, occurred when a scrap dealer mishandled a leftover munition from the 13-year conflict, according to the Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets). The explosion killed 16 people, including five women and five children, and injured 18 more.
The White Helmets worked overnight to search through the debris, recovering the bodies of the victims. Images from the scene showed a plume of smoke rising from the destruction, and residents rushed to the site to aid in rescue efforts.
The blast occurred as Syrians marked the 14th anniversary of the protests that led to the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. The UN previously reported that over 100 people have been killed by unexploded ordnance since the start of the civil war, and between 100,000 to 300,000 unexploded munitions remain across Syria. Aid organizations continue to work to dispose of these dangerous remnants of war.
Latakia has recently been a flashpoint in Syria, with violence surging after Assad’s loyalists were ambushed by opposition forces, which led to further clashes and casualties in the region.
Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-least-16-killed-as-ordnance-from-syrian-civil-war-explodes-in-port-city-latakia/