VIDEO: Ministry of Internal Affairs Publishes Footage from Explosion Site in Nor Arevsh

On February 5, starting at 11:36 AM, the 911 emergency call center received reports of an explosion and collapse on 34th Street in Nor Arevsh, Yerevan. This information has been confirmed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia.

Three fire units from the Yerevan Rescue Department, four rescue teams from the Specialized Rescue Operations Center (including a canine team), duty and operational groups from structural and territorial subdivisions of the emergency service, volunteers from the Armenian Red Cross, and a crane from the Russo-Armenian Humanitarian Response Center were dispatched to the scene.

The explosion resulted in a collapse, damaging homes. A total of 180 rescue service personnel and 15 volunteers from the Armenian Red Cross participated in the search and rescue operation. Among those rescued and taken for medical assistance were two individuals with injuries: 1994-born Hrant Sargsyan and 1938-born Roza Nazaryan.

The search and rescue efforts continued, and at 4:05 PM, the bodies of Gayane Yeghoyan and Hayk Solomonyan were recovered from the rubble. The explosion completely destroyed buildings No. 43 and 27a on 34th Street in Nor Arevsh, and several other structural elements of a number of homes were damaged.

Psychologists from the Rescue Service and the Armenian Red Cross provided psychological support to the relatives of the deceased at the scene. Two ambulance teams were on duty at the site, while patrol officers cordoned off the area and secured the roads leading to the site.

As of 4:05 PM, by the directive of the Emergency Situations Service director, all forces returned to their deployment sites. Two firefighting units are conducting duty at the scene. A criminal investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the explosion and other circumstances.