Massive explosion kills 2 at Azerbaijan munitions plant

PanARMENIAN.Net - Authorities in Azerbaijan say two people were killed by an explosion at a munitions factory on Tuesday, July 26 in the town of Shirvan, about 100 kilometers from the capital, Baku, RFE/RL reports.

A statement from Azerbaijan’s Defense Industry Ministry said both of the people who died in the explosion were employees at the Araz plant.

The ministry, which manages the facility, named the victims of the blast as Agamir Mamedov and Ilhama Nuriyeva.

RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service reported that at least 20 people were injured and that explosions continued to rock the city and its surroundings for hours while a fire raged at the facility.

Initial reports suggested that the explosion involved munitions that were being loaded in an area where finished products are stored.