Fire at Margara Armenian-Turkish Checkpoint: Details

A fire broke out in the Margara administrative district of the Ararat region, at the site of a future checkpoint on the Turkish border. The fire damaged the observation tower, which is considered a symbol of Margara and was built in the 1960s.

The observation tower housed a stork's nest, which was damaged and destroyed. It is unclear whether the cause was due to the wind or construction work. However, part of the nest fell onto the tower, and when work was being carried out, sparks ignited the fire at around 3:30 PM.

Zarzand Gabrielian, head of the Media Relations, Analysis, and Information Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia, confirmed the presence of the fire in an interview with Auroranews. “We received a report that a bird's nest was on fire atop the observation tower. A team departed at 3:45 PM and managed to contain the fire; as far as I understand, they are currently working to extinguish it,” said Gabrielian.

It should be noted that active construction is underway near Margara, with mobile customs posts being built. The old structures have not been touched, but new ones are being constructed with renewed vigor.