At least 14 people have lost their lives and 11 others sustained injuries after an explosion ripped through a weapons depot in northern Syria’s Idlib province, turning what remained of a decade-long conflict into another tragedy for civilians and emergency workers.

The blast occurred on Wednesday near Sarmada, with the force of the explosion triggering a huge fire and sending thick smoke over the area for hours. Emergency teams rushed to the scene, but their efforts were complicated by secondary explosions from ammunition stored at the temporary depot.

The human cost remained evident as rescuers searched through the rubble for people who might still be trapped beneath the collapsed structures. An Associated Press photographer at the scene reported seeing bodies being recovered, underscoring the scale of the destruction and the difficult conditions confronting rescue workers.

Among those injured were personnel of Syria’s Defence Ministry, according to Reuters, highlighting the danger faced not only by residents but also by those responding to emergencies at sites containing remnants of war.

Authorities said the facility had been used to store weapons and munitions left over from Syria’s uprising and civil war, which raged from 2011 to 2024. The explosion therefore illustrates one of the less visible consequences of war: even after the fighting subsides, abandoned weapons and ammunition can continue to threaten lives.

The incident has also raised fresh concerns about the safety of communities living near former military and conflict sites. With the cause of the explosion yet to be established, the tragedy adds to fears that poorly secured remnants of Syria’s long conflict could continue claiming lives as the country struggles to rebuild.