The natural gas pumping station in Karakert village of Armenia’s Armavir Province, where an explosion occurred on Saturday, was put in commission several months ago, the village head Mher Artenyan told Armenian News – NEWS.am.

In his words, according to the information at his disposal, the explosion occurred after a car was pumped with natural gas. “The driver got into the car to leave when the explosion occurred,” Artenyan said.

The blast occurred at around 12:20am.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) of Armenia, the explosion took place while pumping natural gas to a vehicle, and its driver—T. P., born in 1970—died on the spot. 

In addition, natural gas station worker A. G.—born in 1983—sustained lower limb fractures, and he was rushed to the Armavir town hospital. Subsequently, he was transferred to Erebouni Medical Center in capital city Yerevan, where doctors said he is in critical condition.