Armenian government to give 3 million drams to families of 16 people killed by explosion at trading center in Yerevan

YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs unveiled today a draft resolution on providing assistance to the families of those who were killed and injured by an explosion at Surmalu trade center in Yerevan on August 14.

The fire and the subsequent explosion at the fireworks warehouse at the trading center killed sixteen people and injured more than 60. Two-day mourning was declared in the country on August 17-18.

According to the draft decision 150,000 is to be paid to those of injured who were treated at hospitals for up to three days, 300,000 drams to  those who were hospitalized for three or more days and 3,000,000 drams to the families of 16 killed people, including the one person who is still missing.

Last week, Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan said the government will not pay compensations to owners of stores who suffered from the explosion at the Surmalu market. According to him, the government will not bear the costs that should be reimbursed by insurance companies. -0-