October 12, 2011

MAJOR LANDSLIDE IN ARMENIA

MAJOR LANDSLIDE IN ARMENIA

On October 2, 2011 around 7pm Armenian time, landslide occurred at Armenia-Georgia interstate highway, in 83rd km of Tavush region. The Landslide hit 250 meters of transboudary Vanadzor-Bagratashen highway between the cities of Alaverdi and Noyemberyan, nearby Ayrum railway station’s bridge and close to Lchkadzor village of M6 Interstate Highway. The 130 meter long and 60 meter deep terrain covered the road, making it completely impassable. The causes of this phenomenon on the highway are being investigated and studied. Emergency services are now on the scene.

According to the comments made by the head of Public Relations department of RA Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Petros Demirchyan, landslides in this part of the road are mainly caused by heavy rains, moist and overflowed rivers. He also added that the road underwent repair works in 1996-1997 under World Bank financing. Mr. Demirchyan emphasized that such types of landslides mainly occurred in springs due to the moist, and that this region is prone to landslides. It is very difficult to forecast the concrete place of landfall. The problem is not the road, but the landfalls which are being filled in into the road and causing traffic jams.

Measures for landslide results elimination are being taken now. An operative team is formed to eliminate the effects and impacts of the landslide. MES Operative headquarters headed by RA Minister of Emergency Situations Mr. Armen Yeritsyan intensively work in the disaster zone, at the accident site. Military helicopters provided by RA Ministry of Defense and mobile cranes provided by “South Caucasian Railways” helped operative headquarters and rescuers pull out 25 cars and heavy trucks of the land massive.

REC CAUCASUS ARMENIA BRANCH OFFICE

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