Large Fire in Gegharkunik Province Causes Damage of Approximately 100 Million Drams

On December 1, a large fire broke out in Gegharkunik Province. Around 01:10, the Emergency Situations Ministry's rescue service received a call regarding a fire that had ignited in one of the animal barns in the village of Lichk.

According to photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan from the scene, four fire-fighting teams from the Martuni, Vardenis, and Gavar fire-rescue units responded to the incident.

It was discovered that the fire started in an animal barn located in an area called 'Kavnots,' belonging to 49-year-old Shirak Khaloyan from Lichk village.

As a result of the fire, approximately 6,200 bales of hay were burned, and 700 sheep and 25 large cattle in the barn perished.

Local villagers joined the firefighters in combating the blaze, but the wind exacerbated the situation.

The head of the Gegharkunik province police, Artur Mkrtchyan, and the head of the Martuni police department, Stepan Hakobjan, also arrived at the site. The flames were visible from several kilometers away.

According to preliminary reports, Khaloyan sustained material losses amounting to around 100 million drams. The cause of the fire is still under investigation; however, both Khaloyan and local residents are convinced that the fire was definitely not caused by an electrical fault. Villagers have urged the government, specifically Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, to provide assistance to the affected party.