The explosion is believed to have been caused by a scrap dealer handling the aged explosive device.
The blast led to the destruction of a four-story building, causing concrete slabs to collapse and residents to be trapped under the wreckage.
“Efforts to search for and rescue those trapped are ongoing,” the White Helmets stated on Telegram, adding that at least 18 people were injured.
A video posted on social media showed people being rescued from the debris alive.
UN Reports High Death Toll from Unexploded Ordnance
Unexploded weapons from over a decade of conflict persist as a threat in conflict-ridden Syria.
In February, the United Nations reported that approximately 100 individuals have lost their lives due to unexploded ordnance over the past 13 years.
Following the ousting of long-time president Bashar Assad in December, teams have successfully disposed of over 1,400 unexploded devices.
Aid agency Humanity and Inclusion estimated that between 100,000 and 300,000 out of the one million munitions used during the war failed to detonate.
They have also identified 138 minefields and contaminated areas in regions such as Idleb, Aleppo, Hama, Deir-ez-Zor, and Lattakia.
The incident occurred as public celebrations took place in various parts of Syria to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the uprising against Assad’s rule.
Lattakia recently experienced the most violent incidents in Syria since Assad’s ousting.
A government-led counter-offensive, supported by allied factions, defeated the insurgency in the region.
However, this led to significant destruction and numerous revenge attacks targeting members of the Alawite minority community, including the Assad family.
Over 1,000 individuals, predominantly civilians, were killed in these attacks.
Edited by: Kieran Burke
