Seven missing as landslide hits Vanadzor-Baghratashen highway
Seven people are said to be missing after a landslide hit Armenia's Tavush marz, near the border with Georgia, on Sunday.
Armen Sorsumatyan (1973, citizen of Yerevan), Mekhak Sorsumatyan (1973, citizen of Yerevan), Norik Mirzoyan (1939, resident of Lchkadzor village), Arthur Hakobyan (1992, citizen of Georgia), Gurgen Hakobyan (1949, citizen of Georgia), Gena Surmanidze (1961, citizen of Georgia) Nukri Surmanidze(1981, citizen of Georgia) are among the missing.
As reported earlier, the landslide hit the 86th km of the interstate highway, near Ayrum station in Tavush marz, leaving 35 cars under rocks and mud.
Seven people were taken to hospitals in Alaverdi and Noyemberyan with minor injuries and fractures. They were discharged later in the day.
By the instruction of Armenian prime minister, an emergency headquarters was set up on Sunday evening to specify the circumstances. Rescue missions were sent to the site to uncover the vehicles and assist trapped passengers.
A hotline is available at the Ministry of Emergency Situations by the numbers: 010-52-96-90, 010-36-02-97, 060-44-02-38.
The Government informs drivers that the Vanadzor-Dilijan-Ijevan-Bargatashen bypass can be used instead of Vanadzor-Baghratashen highway.
Probe into the details of the accident is under way.
