A tanker truck with fuel oil fell into a river in Armenia, rescuers will assess the risk of an environmental disaster

YEREVAN, July 17. /ARKA/. A fuel oil tanker with 23 tons of fuel oil fell into the Voghji River in Armenia's Syunik region, the Rescue Service reported. The incident was reported at  yesterday at 21:39 on the Kapan-Kajaran highway, near the village of Dzagedzor.

Task forces from the regional rescue department and fire and rescue teams of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as two combat crews, left for the scene. Local authorities had been informed of the emergency.

A Scania truck with a tank trailer loaded with 23 tons of fuel oil drove off the roadway, crashed into a concrete barrier, the trailer separated from the truck and partially ended up in the Voghji River.

As a result of the damage to the tank, a fuel oil leak occurred, which was stopped thanks to the actions of rescuers. Rescuers cleared the road, using a truck crane, removed the trailer from the river and transferred it to the truck.

"Together with representatives of local authorities and using appropriate technical means, rescuers will collect fuel oil and clean the river," the Rescue Service said.

Hydrometeorological Center specialists took samples of river water for a preliminary assessment of its quality in the laboratory to determine the degree of pollution and the extent of its spread. Further actions will be determined based on the results obtained.