The death toll from a powerful explosion that rocked the southern Syrian city of Latakia on Saturday has risen to 16, with 18 others injured, the Al Watan newspaper reported, citing a statement from the civil defense.
According to it, five women and five children were among the dead. The statement stressed that "these figures are preliminary, as rescue operations are ongoing". There are still bodies under the rubble of the collapsed building.
A day earlier, the Ministry of Health reported 10 deaths. According to the local civil defense service, the explosion was caused by the detonation of an unexploded large-caliber shell in a scrapyard. It was located near a four-story building in the Al-Raml neighborhood, which collapsed as a result of the explosion.
From March 6 to 10, the security forces of the transitional government carried out an operation against armed supporters of former President Bashar al-Assad in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, Hama and Homs. As a result of the clashes, more than 1,500 people were killed.