Category: 2022

 12:14,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. There are still clusters of fire under the rubble at the Surmalu market where the explosion took place and the fire is still not contained, Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Davit Hambaryan told reporters.

“There’s a lot of work to do in cleaning the rubble and carrying out the search and rescue operation,” he said.

Right now 158 firefighter-rescuers are working on the scene. Volunteers had joined the rescuers overnight August 14-15.

Hambaryan says the volunteers have registered and are on stand-by to be deployed whenever needed.

Asked about the cause of the explosion, Hambaryan said: “Only a specialized investigation will give the answer, I will refrain from giving any assessment now. We can only see with the naked eye that especially explosives can be one of the reason or the main reason of the blast or the shockwave, the investigation will give the answer. We can still hear the cracks in various parts this morning, which shows that the material is spread out.”

Initially it was reported that the building which exploded was a fireworks warehouse. 

61 people were hospitalized after the blast, but as of August 15 most of them were treated and discharged with 21 still receiving treatment.

15 people are missing.

The death toll in the explosion stands at 6.

The prosecution earlier said the investigators are looking into all possible versions. However the criminal case is opened on Violation of Fire Safety Rules Causing Deaths and Violating of Safety Rules for Storing, Transporting, Using or Supplying Flammable or Incendiary Materials Causing Death.

 12:19,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The United States Embassy in Armenia offered condolences to the families of the victims of the Surmalu market explosion in Yerevan.

“On behalf of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, I wish to express our deepest condolences for the tragic loss of those who died as a result of the Surmalu market blast on August 14, wish swift recovery to the injured, and commend the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Emergency Services [sic] and others who responded to the blast. We hold in our thought those who perished, as well as those who mourn their loss during this difficult time,” Charge d’affaires Chip Laitinen said in a statement.

 12:38,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Pambukhchyan says they have the sufficient number of firefighter-rescuers and equipment for the efforts in the ongoing firefighting and search and rescue operation at the Surmalu market in Yerevan.

He said the search and rescue operation continues intensively and more equipment will be deployed in an hour. “We are unable to do simultaneous actions because there are people under the rubble, we really hope they are alive,” Pambukhchyan said.

“We are carrying out our objective in cooperation with every ministry,” he added.

The remaining part of the exploded building could collapse, he warned.

Rescuers are now neutralizing the dangers coming from the standing pillars. Those trapped under the rubble could be under these pillars, Pambukhchyan said.

He said that the victims and injured people include both employees of the market and visitors. Most of the victims are visitors of the trade center.

Asked about the cause of the explosion, Pambukhchyan said that the law enforcement agencies will give the answer. “We can’t give an assessment, our function is to put out the fire and carry out search and rescue operations, and we bear the entire responsibility for doing that,” he said.

 13:01,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations is “99% certain” that the explosion in the Surmalu market was not an act of terrorism, the Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Pambukhchyan told reporters.

“Looking at the footage of the moment of the blast it becomes obvious that there can be no talk about an act of terror because first of all there is some fire, smoke rises, then only the blast. Meaning there was some volume of fire which then spread out on the explosive materials. According to the ministry of emergency situations this is 99 percent accurate,” he said.

Speaking about the bomb threats which targeted various structures in Yerevan following the blast, Pambukhchyan said all threats were fake and reminded that hoax bomb threats have become more and more frequent. 

Initially it was reported that the building which exploded was a fireworks warehouse. 

61 people were hospitalized after the blast, but as of August 15 most of them were treated and discharged with 21 still receiving treatment.

15 people are missing.

The death toll in the explosion stands at 6.

The prosecution earlier said the investigators are looking into all possible versions. However the criminal case is opened on Violation of Fire Safety Rules Causing Deaths and Violating of Safety Rules for Storing, Transporting, Using or Supplying Flammable or Incendiary Materials Causing Death.

 13:22,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. 13 people continue receiving treatment at various hospitals for injuries suffered in the Surmalu market explosion, the healthcare ministry said.

All patients are in satisfactory condition.

The other hospitalized people were discharged after receiving treatment.

A total of 61 people were hospitalized after the blast.

The death toll in the August 14 explosion stands at 6.

 13:28,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament of Turkey Garo Paylan from the opposition HDP party offered condolences to the Armenian people on the deadly Surmalu market explosion in Yerevan.

“According to latest information the explosion in a shopping center in the Armenian capital of Yerevan killed 6 people, 16 are missing and many were injured. I express my condolences to the Armenian people,” the ethnic Armenian lawmaker tweeted.

 13:40,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. A criminal investigation on Article 314 of the Criminal Code (Spreading False Information on Terrorism) will be probed by the National Security Service’s Investigative Department following the bomb threats targeting major infrastructures on August 14 which were subsequently determined to be hoax threats.

The general prosecution said it will forward several other proceedings on similar fake bomb threats to the NSS for investigation.

 13:45,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. Turkey’s special representative for normalization with Armenia Serdar Kilic extended condolences over the deadly market explosion in Yerevan.

“My sincere condolences to the family of the victim,” Kilic tweeted on August 14 when the death toll was still 1. “…and speedy recovery to all those injured in this tragedy.”

The death toll rose to 6 Monday morning.

 13:54,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia expressed condolences over the deadly market explosion in Yerevan.

“News about a massive explosion in Yerevan, Armenia is shocking. Our condolences to the families & friends of the victims of the tragedy. We wish swift & speedy recovery to all those injured & stand in solidarity with our Armenian friends in this difficult time,” the Georgian foreign ministry tweeted.

 14:00,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin sent a letter of condolences to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the deadly explosion that hit a market in Yerevan on August 14.

“I express my deepest condolences on the occasion of the deaths that were caused by the fire in a trade center in Yerevan. Please, convey to the families of the victims words of most sincere sympathy and support, and wishes of speedy recovery to all those injured,” President Putin said in the letter published by the Kremlin.