At least 17 killed and 50 critically wounded in explosion at Yemen gasoline station | EUROtoday

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At least 17 individuals have been killed and dozens critically injured after an explosion at a gasoline station in Yemen, well being authorities have stated.

There are believed to be no less than 91 victims of the blast in Yemen’s southwestern al-Bayda province on Saturday, the Houthi-run well being ministry stated.

Of these injured, greater than 50 persons are reported to be in a crucial situation, with rescue groups persevering with to seek for these reported lacking.

“We extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to the families and relatives of the victims of the painful accident that occurred as a result of the explosion of gas stations in the village of Al-Majrish,” the ministry stated in an announcement.

The reason behind the explosion was not instantly clear, however footage circulating on-line displaying an enormous fireplace which despatched columns of black smoke into the sky and left charred automobiles smouldering close by.

Bayda is managed by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who’ve been at battle with Yemen’s internationally recognised authorities for greater than a decade, in a civil battle that has left greater than 150,000 individuals lifeless and sparked one of many world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Elsewhere within the province, the Houthis fatally attacked and looted Hanaka al-Masoud village within the al-Qurayshiya district final week, the internationally-recognised authorities alleged.

“This horrific attack targeted citizens’ homes and mosques, and resulted in many casualties, including women and children, and the destruction of property,” stated info minister Moammar al-Eryani, alleging that the assault got here after a week-long seige of the village.

Rights activist Riyadh al-Dubai stated the Houthis detained dozens of males and looted houses, seizing valuables reminiscent of gold, cash, daggers and different possessions. He stated shelling by the Houthis had continued relentlessly day and evening for greater than 5 days.

The US Embassy in Yemen condemned the assault, saying in an announcement that the “deaths, injuries, and wrongful detentions of innocent Yemenis perpetrated by Houthi terrorists are depriving the Yemeni people of peace and a brighter future”.

Yemen’s civil battle started in 2014, when the rebels took management of the capital Sanaa and far of the nation’s north, forcing the federal government to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition entered the battle in March 2015, in an effort to revive the internationally recognised authorities.

Saturday’s blast additionally got here a day after Israeli warplanes bombed an influence station and two ports in Yemen in retaliation for Houthi drone and missile strikes towards Israel. The Houthis have been repeatedly putting at ships within the Red Sea because the begin of the battle on their allies Hamas in Gaza.

Pro-Houthi media stated no less than one individual had been killed and 9 wounded. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the Iran-backed Houthi militia had been “paying and will continue to pay a heavy price for their aggression against us”.

The strikes hit the ports of Ras Issa and Hodeidah, in addition to the Hezyaz central energy station in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, whereas the Harf Sufyan District in Amran province additionally got here beneath air assault, based on Al Masirah TV, the primary Houthi-run information outlet.

The Israeli navy stated greater than 20 plane took half within the assault, dropping round 50 bombs and missiles.

Additional reporting by businesses