2022 Yerevan explosion explained

2022 Yerevan explosion
Time:13:23
Timezone:AMT
Venue:"Surmalu" shopping centre
Location:Yerevan, Armenia
Coordinates:40.1652°N 44.5078°W
Type:Explosion and fire
Cause:Under investigation
Reported Deaths:16
Reported Injuries:63
Missing:2

On 14 August 2022, at 13:23 local time, a large explosion took place in the Surmalu shopping centre in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. It caused widespread destruction and fire, leaving dozens of dead and injured.[1] The explosion killed 16 people and injured 63, with nine missing as of 20 August.[2] [3]

Events

The explosion occurred at a fireworks warehouse, which tore through the Surmalu shopping centre in Yerevan.[4] A large fire ensued and destroyed much of the market. 200 firefighters attended the scene.[5] [6]

Response

The victims were named the following day.[7] Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the scene of the blast with Mayor of Yerevan Hrachya Sargsyan, Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Pambukhchyan, director of the rescue service Armen Gasparyan, and head of the Office of Coordination of Inspection Bodies Artur Asoyan.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022-08-15 . Death toll in fireworks depot blast in Armenia reaches 7 . 2023-08-30 . AP News . en.
  2. Web site: Число жертв взрыва в ТЦ "Сурмалу" достигло 16: без вести пропали 9 граждан . panorama.am . 17 August 2022 . ru.
  3. Web site: Yerevan market explosion: Search and rescue operations resume . 2022-08-20 . news.am . en.
  4. Web site: 2022-08-14 . Fireworks blast at Yerevan market kills 2, injures 60 . 2023-08-30 . AP News . en.
  5. Web site: VIDEO : Firefighters douse the flames after an explosion at a market in Yerevan . 2022-08-15 . euronews . en . 15 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220815035946/https://www.euronews.com/video/2022/08/14/firefighters-douse-the-flames-after-an-explosion-at-a-market-in-yerevan . live .
  6. News: Fireworks explosion rocks Armenia shopping market . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-08-15 . 15 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220815032919/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-62540398 . live .
  7. Web site: Ghazanchyan . Siranush . 2022-08-15 . Victims of Surmalu blast identified . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220815084235/https://en.armradio.am/2022/08/15/victims-of-surmalu-blast-identified/ . 15 August 2022 . 2022-08-15 . Public Radio of Armenia . en-US.
  8. Web site: Ghazanchyan . Siranush . August 15, 2022 . PM Pashinyan visits the scene of Surmalu blast . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220815074537/https://en.armradio.am/2022/08/15/pm-pashinyan-visits-the-scene-of-surmalu-blast/ . 15 August 2022 . 2022-08-15 . Public Radio of Armenia . en-US.