The cause of the explosion, which also wounded 80 people, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, was not immediately clear. Photo: AFP
Source:
https://scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/2140993/blast-kills-11-civilians-syrias-city-idlib Middle East
Mysterious blast levels multi-storey building, killing 11 civilians, in Syrian city of Idlib
At least 11 were killed after this building was struck by a blast of unknown origin in Syria's northwestern jihadist-held city of Idlib on Monday. Photo: AFP
A huge blast killed at least 11 civilians as it wrecked a multi-storey building in Syria’s northwestern jihadist-held city of Idlib on Monday, a war monitor said.
The explosion of unknown origin also wounded 80 others, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.
The group, which relies on sources inside Syria for its information, said the death toll was likely to rise as several of the wounded were in serious condition and many others were trapped under the rubble.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.
An AFP correspondent at the scene saw volunteers operate a bulldozer in the dark near the collapsed multi-storey building, as rescuers searched for victims using lamps.
Idlib city is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group led by Syria’s former al-Qaeda affiliate.
Rescuers toiled through the night to find people trapped in the rubble; the body count is expected to grow. Photo: AFP
Held by an array of jihadists and rebels, the surrounding province of the same name is the last in Syria largely beyond government control.
More than 350,000 people have been killed in Syria’s seven-year civil war since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.