Approximately 30% of the Area Cleared: Minister Provides Details

The Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia, Armen Pambukhchyan, reported that the debris in the basement area has been cleared today, as they suspect that there may still be survivors trapped there.

When asked how many individuals were in the area, with information suggesting that a pregnant woman, her child, and her sister were in the basement, the minister responded that they do not have precise information on the whereabouts of those individuals. Currently, they are searching for 22 citizens who are considered missing.

The minister noted that approximately 30 percent of about 8000-9000 square meters has been cleared so far, and the work will continue through the night. “We have adopted a policy of not stopping for a single moment, because every second is important to us, and we will carry out these operations all day,” he stated, adding that there will soon be a shift change for the rescuers.

Armen Pambukhchyan also informed that there is no shortage of rescuers currently on the ground, as both the ministry, the Red Cross, and volunteer teams from the Disaster Response Unit are present.

In response to a clarifying question about which ambulance transported someone, the minister said that even if an ambulance had transported a person, it definitely was not from under the rubble, as no one has been rescued from the debris yet.

The minister also mentioned that cooling operations are being carried out due to the strength of the wind, as they assume otherwise small fire outbreaks could occur. “Cooling is ongoing, but the overwhelming majority of our efforts are directed towards search and rescue operations and clearing the area,” he said.