Five teenagers injured in an explosion at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 29 have been transferred to the United States and Belgium for treatment, the Armenian Health Ministry said on October 8.

The ministry said the latest transfers join at least 12 others who had been taken to France, Bulgaria and Italy.

Authorities in Karabakh said at least 170 people were killed and 290 injured in the explosion as they lined up for fuel to make the journey from Karabakh to Armenia amid a military offensive by Azerbaijani forces.

On September 19, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, which left hundreds of Armenians killed and thousands of others displaced. On September 20, the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to a ceasefire on Azerbaijan’s terms, including the dissolution of the Defense Army. On September 18, President of the Republic of Artsakh Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree, according to which the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) will cease to exist by January 1, 2024. As of 1 October, 100,625 displaced residents have already fled Nagorno-Karabakh and reached Armenia.