An explosion at a weapons depot in northwest Syria's Idlib province killed five people and wounded nine others on Wednesday, security forces said in a statement.

 

The explosion in the town of Kafr Takharim was "caused by a warehouse containing missiles and ammunition, and occurred due to work underway" at a site nearby, the Idlib security forces said, adding that five site workers were killed, AFP reported.

 

State television reported the same toll, without saying what caused the blast. Nine other people were injured, the security forces added.

 

Images circulating online showed widespread destruction, fire and damage to farmland, while videos showed shrapnel reaching shops and residential buildings.

 

In August, four people were killed in an explosion at a weapons depot on the outskirts of Idlib, authorities said.