The Armenian government on Tuesday said 28,120 refugees have so far arrived from Nagorno-Karabakh, local media reported.

The refugees began fleeing after Azerbaijan sent troops backed by artillery strikes into Armenian-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh last week in an attempt to bring the breakaway region to heel by force.

The Armenian government said early Monday it would remain in place until all those who wanted to leave the Nagorno-Karabakh region were able to go. Meanwhile, they urged residents to hold back from crowding the roads out, to allow the evacuation of the injured.

It said free fuel would be provided for all those who wanted to leave the territory.

However, the departure was blighted by an explosion at a fuel depot on Monday, which killed 68, with a further 105 people missing and nearly 300 injured. A total of 68 were taken to medical institutions in Armenia, according to Karabakh's ombudsman.

The authorities have given no explanation for the blast.

After the clash broke out on September 19, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an "immediate end to the fighting" in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Russian foregin ministry also issued a statement, calling on the conflicting parties to stop bloodshed and hostilities and return to the implementation of a ceasefire agreement.

Nagorno-Karabakh later accepted a proposal by Russian peacekeepers for a ceasefire with Azerbaijan starting from September 20.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988. Peace talks have been held since 1994, when a cease-fire was agreed on, but there have been sporadic minor clashes since then.

A new round of major armed conflict broke out along the contact line on September 27, 2020, before Russia brokered a new cease-fire agreement on November 9, 2020. Tensions have remained since.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover: Cars with refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh in Kornidzor, Armenia, September 26, 2023. /CFP)