Deadly explosion hits Armenia capital ahead of Wales football match

Wales online
Nov 17 2023

More than a thousand Wales supporters are due to be in the Armenian capital of Yerevan

An explosion has rocked a university building in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, killing one person and injuring three others, authorities said.

The interior ministry said the blast occurred in the basement of the chemistry department building at Yerevan State University.

One person died and three others were take to hospital with burns and other injuries, health officials said, adding that one is in a "grave condition".

Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion.

Rob Page's Wales side are currently in the country and are preparing for their Euro 2024 qualifier which is scheduled to take place tomorrow afternoon (2pm UK time).

More than 1,000 Wales fans are set to attend the match tomorrow, with more travelling to the capital as non-ticketholders.

Page confirmed the FAW had had contact with UK government officials ahead of their trip regarding security concerns. He said: "There has been nothing that has been brought to our attention that we have to be concerned about.

"It's all good and we're raring to go."

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS