Emergency Services Increased After Mall Fire: Samvel Aleksanyan on Malatia Mall Incident

The fire at Malatia Mall is ongoing, with the Ministry of Emergency Situations deploying additional forces to the scene. The chief of police remains on-site, and the Minister of Emergency Situations, Felix Tsolakyan, has visited the area where emergency medical teams are on duty. The emergency team provided first aid to one police officer and one rescuer. The police officer reported that they administered first aid and indicated that the individual could return to duty.

Valeriy Osipyan was also present in an ambulance at the site. Former MP Samvel Aleksanyan, who owns Malatia Mall, arrived close to the area. Osipyan asked Aleksanyan about the potential dangers, noting that Aleksanyan is more familiar with the building. Aleksanyan replied that the fire is spreading from all sides.

When asked by Osipyan if there are dangerous materials inside, Samvel Aleksanyan stated, “The fire has spread to all sides; there are no hazardous materials inside. The emergency services vehicles arrived late—if they had come earlier, this situation wouldn’t have occurred. Initially, only four two-ton trucks arrived, and then the new vehicles came.”

In response to Osipyan's comment that they are aware of their responsibilities, and perhaps four vehicles were necessary at that moment, Aleksanyan replied, “I don’t know.” It’s worth noting that as a result of the fire at Malatia Mall, there are 9 reported injuries, with 6 of them already discharged from the hospital.