VIDEO: Which Communities in Armenia Are Prone to Landslides? Insights from the Ministry of Emergency Situations

Landslide phenomena are widespread in the Republic of Armenia. The area of landslide-prone locations covers 1,216 square kilometers, which constitutes 4.1% of the country's territory. As part of the new disaster risk management strategy, a landslide risk management plan is set to be established, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) reports.

Currently, 233 communities in the republic are located in landslide-prone areas, where hundreds of residential houses, communication paths, and other vital infrastructure have been damaged. “In the Crisis Management Center of the Rescue Service, we have registered and mapped all landslide areas, marked in colors according to which landslides are near residential areas or main roads and what they threaten,” said Armen Karapetyan, Acting Head of the Department of Disaster and Emergency Situations Management.

The MES is in the process of developing a draft law on “Disaster Risk Management and Population Protection,” which, once adopted, will introduce a series of measures related to landslides, also affecting other agencies. “On October 5, 2023, the Armenian government approved the disaster risk management strategy for 2023-2030 and the action plan for 2023-2026. The action plan identifies several directions, including the development of the landslide risk management system, within which the landslide risk management plan will be established,” stated Meruzhan Khachatryan, Head of the Policy Development and Monitoring Division in the area of disaster risk management and other emergency situations.

In collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, landslide sites were identified, and measuring devices were installed as part of the “Landslide Disaster Management Program” from 2004 to 2006. Data on landslide activity is currently being reported as part of the program and other measures, which allows for monitoring the situation. According to an expert, it is rare for a landslide to activate and slide all at once. It occurs gradually, so constant monitoring can help predict and prevent it. “If we know that there is a landslide-prone area, we should not overload that section as much as possible. In other words, no structures should be present, and irrigation and water influx should be regulated to keep as little water as possible in that area,” noted Gurgen Martirosyan, Head of the Department of Population Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction at the MES.

If a landslide begins, it is crucial to leave the landslide-prone area as quickly as possible and move to a safe place. Overall, between 2000 and 2024, Armenia has experienced 178 landslides, resulting in 7 fatalities—5 in Tavush and 2 in Syunik due to landslides. The program of activities aimed at the government's operations for 2021-2026 includes studies of 6 dangerous landslide areas and measures aimed at risk reduction. As a result, the protection of the population, the uninterrupted functioning of buildings, infrastructures, and communication routes will be ensured.