Explosion and House Collapse Occur in Noratus; 75-Year-Old Man Hospitalized with Burns

On June 1st, an explosion and house collapse occurred in the Gegharkunik region. Around 9:35 AM, the Gavarr Medical Center alerted the Gavarr police department that a citizen had been transported to them due to a gas explosion in the village of Noratus.

According to photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan, an operational group from the Gavarr police department, led by department head Igor Mesropyan, immediately went to the scene. Also arriving was a team from the Investigative Committee of Armenia's Gegharkunik regional investigative department, led by senior investigator Hovhannisyan, specializing in particularly important cases.

Police and investigators determined that the injured individual was 75-year-old Nurijan Harutyunyan, a resident of Noratus. It was reported that around 9:00 AM, while trying to light a cigarette as he opened the door to his basement on 12th Passage of Sevan Street, an explosion ensued, causing parts of the house to collapse. As a result of the explosion, Harutyunyan sustained burns of varying degrees and was taken to the Gavarr Medical Center, where he received first aid before being transferred to the burn center in Yerevan.