Number of Bridges Collapsed Due to Debed River Flooding: Minister Provides Details

Seventeen bridges have collapsed due to the flooding of the Debed River. This was stated today by Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Gnel Sanosyan, during a conversation with journalists.

"Some of these are small community bridges, but at least 5-6 bridges are quite large, and it will require significant effort and time from us to restore them. In the case of smaller community bridges, solutions have been found and there are no communication issues. However, significant problems have arisen in this case," he emphasized.

According to the minister, we are experiencing a decrease in water levels today: "A number of problems that were not visible yesterday due to the high water levels have become visible today, allowing us to start active work in other directions as well."

Sanosyan noted that overnight, they were able to bring the necessary equipment to the Akhtala direction: "Where our five settlements are cut off due to the collapse of two bridges. There is a field road where we have been able to transport a pregnant woman by vehicle. The machinery is working on this 5.5 km road, and we are doing earthworks."

He added that in the Hagpat area, the road has been damaged to the extent that it can be used: "This means that we can use the connection for the Hagpat and Tsaghkashat settlements that were cut off from communication. Work is currently underway on the section from Shnogh to Akhtala."

It is worth mentioning that on May 26, following heavy rains in the Lori and Tavush regions, the Debed River overflowed, leading to the collapse of roads and bridges, and homes and vehicles being submerged in water, trapping people and causing bridge collapses. As a result of the flooding, the M-6 interstate road is closed to traffic in both directions. The water level of the Debed River had risen by 6 meters yesterday, and the 530 mm water conduit of "Alaverdi-Arjiss-Noyemberyan" was submerged, causing the water supply to 16 communities to be disrupted, which has since been restored.

As of now, there have been 4 fatalities due to the flooding. Reports from the emergency situations ministry indicate that as of 08:00 today, there has been a decrease in water levels compared to the measurements taken at 08:00 yesterday. A decrease of 105 cm was observed at the Ayruym observation point on the Debed River, 70 cm on the Dzoraget River, 50 cm on the Pambak River, and 57 cm on the Tashir River.

Minister Gnel Sanosyan had previously stated that the extent of the damage has not yet been assessed, but it is significantly substantial.