Armenian authorities work to cope with aftereffects of heavy rains

YEREVAN, 26 May 26. /ARKA/. About 232 people were evacuated in Armenia's Lori and Tavush regions, as well as in the capital Yerevan due to the emergency situation caused by heavy rains late Saturday. At least one person has been reported dead. 

As of 11:30 a.m., 30 teams of 324 rescuers were working in the affected territories, the Rescue Service of the Interior Ministry said.

By Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's decision, an operational centre headed by Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan has been set up to manage the emergency situation.

According to Prime Minister's Press Secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan, the Rescue Service, Roads Department, Police, regional administrations, local self-government bodies and other relevant structures are carrying out all necessary measures within the framework of their authorities.

The State Revenue Committee urged the economic entities not to use Bagratashen checkpoint on the border with Georgia, the road to which is washed out and impassable.

In connection with the situation, the Committee urged economic entities to organize cargo transportation from Georgia to Armenia and in the opposite direction through Gogavan and Bavra checkpoints.

The torrential downpour that hit Armenia the Saturday evening had destructive consequences in different regions of the country, in particular, the Dzoraget-Alaverdi-Shnogh and Bagratashen-Ptavan roads, as well as the M-6 interstate highway to the border with Georgia were closed due to the overflow of the Debed River.

The South Caucasus Railway, which serves Armenian railways, said that trains from Yerevan to Tbilisi, Georgia, would not run until the destroyed sections of the roads were restored. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan headed to the flood-affected area, where search and rescue operations and emergency recovery efforts are underway, h-0-