More than three hours after the early afternoon explosion at Surmalu market, firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze that sent a towering column of smoke over central Yerevan. Rescue workers and volunteers in plainclothes searched for victims who may be trapped under slabs of concrete and twisted metal. An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw two people being pulled from the rubble – a woman with an injured leg and a young man who appeared unconscious. Emergencies Minister Armen Pambukchyan said two sisters were pulled alive from the rubble. Fireworks continued to explode as firefighters and rescue workers worked through thick smoke. The market, about two kilometers (over a mile) south of the city center, is popular for its low prices and variety of products. There was no immediate information on what caused the fireworks to ignite. A spokesman for the emergency services ministry, Ike Kostanian, said the death toll stood at one person killed and 36 injured, but it was unclear if anyone was under the rubble. The health ministry said 26 people were taken to hospital. 11 of them are minors.
