Death toll in apartment blast in Armenian town rises to 3

A gas explosion in an apartment on the third floor of a residential building on Tigran Mets Street in Chambarak, Gegharkunik Province, has left three people dead, Armenia's Rescue Service reported.

Rescue teams recovered another body from the rubble during ongoing search operations.

The explosion, which occurred on Wednesday morning, caused a partial collapse of apartments on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors, as well as damage to adjacent units. Several people were injured and hospitalized.

The incident was first reported at 8:34 a.m. to the Crisis Management Center of the Regional Rescue Department. Firefighters and specialized search-and-rescue teams with canine units were dispatched to the scene.

Initial reports indicated one fatality and ten injured.