The death toll from an explosion in Latakia, western Syria, has risen to at least 16, according to an updated report from the Syrian Civil Defense on Sunday.
The Civil Defense stated on platform “X” that “18 civilians were injured, including six children.” The toll remains preliminary as search and rescue operations continue. Rescuers have been working for over 13 hours to extract those trapped under the rubble of the destroyed residential building.
The official Syrian news agency, SANA, reported that the explosion was caused by an attempt to dismantle war remnants inside a scrap shop located within the building.
Over the past three months, more than 188 children have been killed or injured in Syria due to landmine and war remnant explosions. This coincides with the return of over one million people to their areas, according to a report by Save the Children in March.
Bujar Hoxha, the organization’s director in Syria, stated that large parts of the country remain contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war after 13 years of conflict.
Save the Children has urged the Syrian administration and international donors to accelerate efforts in clearing mines and unexploded ordnance.
A report by the non-governmental organization Humanity & Inclusion last month also warned of the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance left behind from the conflict that began in 2011.
