VIDEO: Drills Begin at TUMO for International Civil Defense Day

From March 1 to 6, the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations is conducting a series of events dedicated to International Civil Defense Day.

The event commenced today at the TUMO Creative Technology Center, where a demonstration special tactical exercise was held on the theme "Organization and Implementation of Civil Defense Measures in the Event of an Enemy Attack."

The purpose of the exercise was to assess the readiness of responding forces and to improve practical skills, as well as to ensure cooperation among the responding forces of the TUMO Creative Technology Center during search and rescue and emergency recovery operations.

Participants in the exercise included groups of paramedics from the "Disaster Medicine Center" public organization, emergency response units from the National Crisis Management Center, civil defense engineering troops, and rescue teams from various fire departments.

Also involved were two brigades from "Emergency Medical Services," a unit from the police of Yerevan, a traffic police squad, and emergency teams from Yerevan Gas, Electric Networks, and Veolia Water.

According to the exercise plan, the enemy has violated the ceasefire again and has begun shelling border villages of Armenia with arms of various calibers. On March 1 at 12:00, information was received from the Defense Ministry's air defense duty officer that four enemy bomber planes had crossed the country’s air border. An aerial attack on Yerevan is also possible.

According to the scenario, the enemy aviation bombed the TUMO building, causing significant damage, casualties, and a fire covering approximately 300 square meters. There is a risk of fire spread and smoke obstruction.

After the "Air Alarm" signal from the TUMO center’s alert system, the Center’s security manager organizes the sheltering of the building’s 700 employees on the first floor, and after the "End of Air Alarm" signal, the civil defense chief organizes the evacuation of employees and visitors to a safe location at the directive of the director.

The TUMO center director subsequently alerts the 911 service.

While rescue forces are on their way, general reconnaissance, fire suppression, rescue operations, and first aid are carried out by the center's teams. Security staff of the sector conduct emergency disconnections of electricity, gas, and water, and remove material valuables and essential documents.

According to the plan, Ministry of Emergency Situations units arrive at the scene, primarily implementing reconnaissance and assessment.

An operational headquarters for managing rescue operations is established.

Operational groups and units from Yerevan’s duty services arrive at the scene. The traffic police unit blocks the area and restricts traffic.

Emergency services teams carry out restoration work on damaged utility energy systems of the building.

Firefighters perform fire suppression and prevent the spread of the fire, as well as rescue trapped citizens from the building using ladders, climbing ropes, and stretchers.

Paramedic groups provide first aid to the injured, after which ambulances transport them to specialized medical facilities.

During the exercise, rescuers also assisted individuals trapped under the rubble of a conditionally bombed building and freed a trapped citizen from a vehicle under debris using rescue equipment.

At the conclusion of the event, the head of the Yerevan rescue department, Colonel Arnold Harutyunyan, expressed gratitude to the participants of the drill, congratulating them on International Civil Defense Day.

Events will continue today with an exercise at the main office of Ay-Di Bank.