An explosion at a temporary facility used to collect weapons and war remnants in northern Syria’s Idlib province has left at least 14 people dead and 11 others wounded.
"The toll from the explosion near the city of Sarmada is 14 killed and 11 injured in a preliminary count," the Idlib health department said on Wednesday.
The explosion occurred on Wednesday at a temporary storage facility near the city of Sarmada, the state-run SANA news agency reported, citing the defence ministry.
The ministry's teams were working with relevant authorities to secure the site, it added.
Subhi Assaf, director of the media office at the Idlib Health Directorate, earlier confirmed the preliminary death toll of four, adding that the injuries ranged from minor to moderate.
Rescue teams were searching for missing people beneath the rubble, he added.
Syrian state broadcaster Al-Ikhbariya reported that internal security forces closed roads leading to the site “to ensure the safety of civilians".
Civil defence and firefighting teams were working to extinguish a fire caused by the explosion, it added.
Sarmada is located in northern Idlib province and is one of the area's major population and commercial centres.
