Risk of Pandemic in Disaster Area Due to Sludge and Dead Animals, Minister Says

There are commissions established at the national, regional, and community levels that are working to assess the damage in various areas. This was stated today by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, Gnel Sanosyan, during a conversation with reporters in Parliament, addressing the aftermath of the floods in Tavush and Lori regions.

“You know that the damage is quite multifaceted, starting from large state infrastructures such as inter-state and local roads, as well as railways, and extending to community facilities, individual businesses, orchards, lands, homes, and so on. However, it is not yet possible to generalize the extent of the damage. We currently have high-rise buildings that were filled with water and sludge on their first floors. It will take quite some time to understand to what degree the buildings have been damaged, whether they are damaged or not, to what extent they are at risk, and whether they are habitable,” he said. “Unfortunately, the numbers of damage will be quite significant considering the spatial and sectoral involvement,” he added.

According to the Minister, the city of Alaverdi and its neighborhoods have been most affected, as well as the village of Karkop, which was completely filled with sludge, where active work is currently underway.

Discussing the potential for a pandemic outbreak in the disaster area, Sanosyan said, “The concern is that there is a significant amount of sludge which may contain harmful substances. On the other hand, there are dead animals—chickens, pigs—some of which have been found, and some have not. Therefore, our partners in the health sector are conducting search operations on one hand while advising caution on the other. Burial sites have been designated for the livestock to prevent the spread of diseases.”