Video: Unidentified Body Undergoes Forensic Examination, Emergency Services Spokesperson Discusses Timeline for Answers

Search operations at the Surmalu shopping center have been suspended and will resume at dawn. This was announced today, August 17, in a press conference by Hayk Kostanyan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

It is noted that as a result of a powerful explosion, there are 16 fatalities, one of whom remains unidentified. Kostanyan stated that a forensic examination has been ordered to determine the person's identity, and samples have already been taken. “According to my information, we will know the citizen's identity within five days,” he said.

According to the spokesperson, the suspension of operations is due to the terrain where the explosion occurred. He emphasized that the situation in that area is more dangerous: “The risk of collapse is greater in that section. Therefore, the headquarters has decided to halt operations at night, and they will be resumed when it gets light.”

Kostanyan summarized the work carried out over the three days at the explosion site. He mentioned that a total of 935 firefighters participated in the search and rescue and firefighting operations, along with 201 representatives from the Red Cross and 132 volunteers from the OMA organization. “Within 49 hours after the fire outbreak and explosion, we isolated the fire, and four hours later, we managed to extinguish it; cooling operations were carried out periodically. A total of 26 citizens have been extracted from the rubble, out of which 16 unfortunately deceased, while 10 lives have been saved.”