News - Heavy rains cause flooding in Armenia’s north, killing one and destroying infrastructure

Three rivers in Armenia’s north have flooded surrounding villages and towns, killing at least one person and destroying roads and bridges while cutting off several settlements, Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. Several citizens have been trapped in their homes while others are being evacuated. To manage the emergency caused by the floods of the Debet, Aghstev and Tashir rivers, an operational headquarters has been created, headed by Gnel Sanosyan, the minister of territorial administration and infrastructures. The roads leading to the Bagratashen state border crossing point with Georgia have also been blocked. the State Revenue Committee reported. Samvel Mkrtumyan, the head of Shnogh administrative district of Lori region, told NEWS.am that the side of the Akhtala factory is completely impassable, the main road in the village has collapsed. “There is a car in the water, there is a person who we cannot find, we are searching at the moment. The Akhtala Bridge is closed, the water is flowing over it, we have evacuated the population with a tractor to Chochkan village. The gardens are all under water,” he said. Samvel Mkrtumyan also said that rescuers have not yet arrived from the capital; they are in contact with rescuers from Noyemberyan and Alaverdi towns. "Rescuers cannot go to Shnogh village, the road is completely closed, we are trapped. Near Tufenkyan Hotel, the road is destroyed, the M6 highway is completely torn up. The situation is worse in Alaverdi, the water is flowing through the city, the Sanahin station has been divided into two parts, the bridge has been destroyed," he added. Samvel Mkrtumyan claimed that no embankment collapsed, and that the emergency was caused only by river flooding.Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has left for the disaster zone.