6 killed, 140 injured as unidentified explosion rocks Syria's Idlib

DAMASCUS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed, including a woman and a child, and 140 others injured as a powerful explosion rocked the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on Thursday, state-run SANA news agency reported citing a non-final toll by the Syrian health authorities.

The blast, which occurred near the village of al-Foua in northern Idlib in proximity to camps housing displaced families, ignited massive fires, sent thick columns of smoke into the sky and triggered an emergency response, including ambulances rushing to the scene.

It set off a series of secondary blasts, further complicating rescue efforts, raising concerns about additional detonations, and causing widespread fear among civilians.

Local hospitals have reportedly issued urgent appeals for blood donations, highlighting the strain on medical facilities amid the influx of injured civilians.

According to Britain-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the blast originated inside an ammunition depot, and rescue operations are still ongoing.

Witnesses also reported the presence of unidentified aircraft flying overhead at the time of the explosion, though no official statement has confirmed any airstrike or external involvement.

No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, and Syrian authorities have yet to release a definitive statement regarding its cause.■