Fire at Surmalu Market Extinguished, Small Hotspots Erupting Occasionally, Minister Says

The fire at the Surmalu shopping center has been extinguished; however, small hotspots are occasionally flaring up. This was stated today, August 15, during a conversation with reporters by the Minister of Emergency Situations, Armen Pambukhchyan.

He noted that the majority of the material has exploded, but it is presumed that some remnants of the fireworks materials still exist. “There was also a lot of plastic material in storage, which continues to burn. It is normal for this to last for several days, and we are prepared for it,” he said.

The minister announced that search and rescue operations, as well as firefighting efforts, are ongoing. “The fire is only flaring up in the storage area; it has been extinguished in the rest of the space. The smoke observed is steam, and we are also carrying out cleaning operations, and oxygen is passing through, which may cause a slight smoke,” he explained.

Pambukhchyan said that during the search and rescue operations, 15 citizens have been found, 23 citizens are receiving treatment, and 18 citizens are still being searched for. “We have their information; we are aware that there have been casualties and that they were either employees of the market or shoppers,” he added.

The minister mentioned that around 70 rescuers are currently working at the scene. “In total, 7 rescuers have sustained various injuries, of which 2 have been hospitalized, while the others have received medical aid on-site.”

It should be noted that yesterday, at 13:23, the National Crisis Management Center received a call reporting an explosion at the Surmalu shopping center. According to preliminary data, an explosion occurred, leading to a fire outbreak. As a result of the explosion, there are 6 confirmed fatalities, and the number of injured exceeds 60.