Death Toll Rises to Seven in Syria’s Idlib Explosion Caused by War Remnants
By Kardo Roj
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – The death toll from an explosion caused by unexploded ordnance in rural Idlib, northwestern Syria, has risen to seven, local sources reported on Thursday.
According to eyewitnesses and local activists, the blast occurred inside a residential building in the town of Nayrab, east of Idlib, resulting in the complete collapse of the structure. Rescue teams from the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, have been working tirelessly to search for survivors trapped under the rubble.
The explosion, believed to have been triggered by war remnants from previous battles in the region, highlights the persistent danger posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in conflict-affected areas.
Civil defense teams rushed to the scene, navigating through the debris in search of any remaining survivors. A spokesperson for the White Helmets stated, “We fear that the death toll may rise further as we continue to remove rubble and locate missing individuals.”
Videos circulating on social media showed extensive destruction, with emergency workers using specialized equipment and their hands to sift through the collapsed structure. The spokesperson emphasized the urgent need for demining efforts in Idlib and other war-torn areas to prevent similar tragedies.
Idlib, the last major stronghold of opposition forces in Syria, has witnessed years of intense fighting between government forces and rebel factions. As a result, large swathes of the province remain littered with unexploded bombs, landmines, and other hazardous war remnants.
The Syrian war, now in its 14th year, has left behind a deadly legacy of unexploded ordnance, posing an ongoing risk to civilians, especially in areas that have seen heavy bombardment. Despite local and international efforts to clear these explosives, the sheer scale of contamination remains a formidable challenge.
According to humanitarian organizations, children are particularly vulnerable to UXO-related accidents, as they often mistake the deadly remnants for toys or harmless objects. Recent reports indicate that dozens of civilians, including children, have fallen victim to such incidents across Syria in the past year alone.
The latest tragedy has reignited calls for increased international support to bolster mine-clearance operations in Syria. Local organizations, alongside international agencies, have been working to educate residents about the dangers of UXO, but funding and resources for large-scale demining remain insufficient.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has repeatedly warned about the long-term impact of war remnants in Syria, stressing that without urgent intervention, these explosives will continue to claim lives for years to come.
As the search for survivors continues in Nayrab, residents of Idlib face yet another grim reminder of the lingering scars of war and the urgent need for demining efforts to safeguard civilian lives.