Sunday's blast at the Surmalu wholesale market also injured 60 people after it caused a fire and the collapse of a building.
"Sixteen bodies were found during search and rescue efforts," the ministry said in a statement, adding that 18 people were still missing.The cause has not yet been established, but local news reports, citing witnesses, said the explosion went off at a place that stored fireworks. Local authorities have excluded the possibility that it was a terror attack and prosecutors have already launched a probe into violations"on stocking inflammable goods", breaches in fire safety standards and the death of people"due to negligence".
The disaster comes as the country of three million people is still recovering from a 2020 war with Azerbaijan, which ended in a heavy defeat and sparked a political crisis. Shortly after Sunday's blast, officials evacuated people from Yerevan metro stations after a bomb threat, but authorities found no explosive device.In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month.
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