Mine blast injures three people in Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar UPDATED

Three people have been injured in a mine explosion in Kalbajar.

This was confirmed in a joint report of the press services of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the ministries of interior, defence and the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), per Caliber.Az.

On July 19, an explosion occurred in the area of Agdaban village of Kalbajar district in the territory not cleared of mines.

Huseynov Khalifa Hasan oglu, born in 1969, was injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion. Mammadov Samandar Aligama oglu, born in 1978, was injured by shrapnel.

Garashov Rahim Ashraf oglu, born in 1976, who went to help them at the scene, received injuries of varying degrees of severity as a result of the second mine.

An investigation is being conducted by the prosecutor's office of the Kalbajar district.

19:28, July 19

Another mine explosion has occurred in the liberated Azerbaijani lands.

Khalifa Huseynov, 55, sustained severe injuries from a mine explosion in Agdaban village of Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar district, Caliber.Az reports citing the local media.

Huseynov's condition has been reported as severe, and he is receiving medical treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

Following the 2020 second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan gained control of territories that had been occupied by Armenian forces for nearly three decades. However, a significant challenge remained - extensive mine contamination. These mines pose a serious threat to civilians attempting to return to their houses and livelihoods, as well as hindering reconstruction efforts.

The Azerbaijani government launched extensive mine clearance operations shortly after the war ended in November 2020.  The Mine Action Agency of the Azerbaijan Republic (ANAMA) is leading the demining efforts. ANAMA has deployed specialists and advanced equipment from various countries, including Türkiye, UK, Slovakia, and Croatia.

In 2023, ANAMA cleared more than 53,000 hectares (130,000 acres) of territory from over 8,500 anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, as well as 23,000 unexploded ordnances (UXO). In March 2024, more than 400 mines and 1,200 UXOs were found and diffused on nearly 6,100 hectares (15,000 acres) of lands.