In order to eliminate the consequences of the situation caused by the heavy rain, prolonged hailstorm and strong wind in Ijevan, the entire staff of the Communal Service of the Ijevan municipality continues intensive work for the third day. within the framework of the process of assessing the situation as a result of the dangerous developments of natural phenomena, the working groups of the municipality go around the districts of Ijevan, collecting information about damages.

The damages were especially in Constitution Square, Valence, Ijevanyan, Meliqbekyan, Ohanyan, Spandaryan and Aslanyan streets of Ijevan. Residents’ gardens, crop fields were damaged, and accidents were recorded  in utility-energy systems.

In these emergency days, Tavush Media, in cooperation with the regional and community authorities, has prepared for you an emergency bulletin containing operative, necessary, reliable and useful information: a text, photo and video repository. You can find out about the situation, consequences, needs, completed and to be completed works, and reduction of disasters threatening Tavush region and their risks by visiting www.tavushmedia.am website. Watch, listen, read and be informed. One is informed, is protected.

On June 19, in the evening, heavy rain and hail fell in the city of Ijevan. As a result of hailstorm and strong wind, trees fell and roads were blocked in the center of the region. Immediately after the stabilization of the weather, the working groups of the Ijevan municipality cleaned and opened the interstate and state roads and streets.

Rescue and patrol services and ambulance workers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs performed a service on the spot and provided necessary assistance to the citizens.

After the unprecedented hailstorm and torrential rain, there are several local power grid failures in Ijevan, there are damaged roofs, broken trees and flooded basements. Food, commercial outlets and service centers were seriously damaged.

A commission was created at Ijevan Municipality to collect and inventory the damages of various volumes caused by heavy rain and prolonged hailstorm. The commission goes around the districts of Ijevan and collects the damages caused by the hail.

Ijevan Municipality together with rescue and patrol officers and citizens, continues the work, solving the existing problems.



Have you been able to sleep normally in the last few years? Do you have headaches, nausea that have occurred recently? These are some of the feelings that you can have during and after emergencies.

Psychologist Mery Azizyan explains how stress and fear arise under the influence of emergent situations, on the air of Tavush TV. Most importantly, she talks about how we can improve our mental health through self-regulation and self-care.

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The  program is implemented within the framework of the “Striving for a better future. communities and civil society resilience in Armenia” program, co-financed by the European Union and implemented by NEF Belgium in partnership with “AGATE” Rights Defense Center for Women with Disabilities NGO, “Blejan” Ecological, Social, Business Support NGO, “YCCD” Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan NGO, and Winner Goris Development Foundation.



From “So that the trial won’t become a trouble” book

How to prepare for an earthquake 

The analysis of the Spitak earthquake of 1988 showed that the preparatory stage has a crucial rule in terms of earthquake protection.

Now, we will list the actions necessary for the preparatory stage. You need to get a seismic risk assessment map of the area. The earthquake resistance coefficient of your building and dangerous and toxic objects in the area are indicated on the map.

That map will contribute to your future seismic protection operations. You can contact the Municipality or MES seismic protection service to obtain the map.

The necessary conditions for the safety of buildings

When speaking about this problem, it is appropriate to remember the following Japanese expression: “The earthquakes do not kill people but the ruins of the bad buildings they built.” This was confirmed in 1988 in Armenia when most of the people fell victim to the ruins. When choosing a construction site, have a document guaranteeing the development of the site, according to which it is necessary to build buildings away from geologically active faults because the ground movements that cause destruction are made along those faults.

It is not allowed to build buildings on the water catchment grounds at the foot of the hillsides. As a result of an earthquake, collapses and landslides occur in such places. Check the condition of your apartment, if necessary, do it right away because if the building is not completely secured, no measures taken for the safety of your apartment will help. While constructing buildings, lay a firm foundation as much as possible, and fasten the walls reliably to the foundation.

It is not allowed to make such modifications in buildings that reduce the seismic resistance of the building, for example:

1. reconstructions of basement floors weakening the foundation,
2. change in the floor plan of the apartment (cavities opened in the load-bearing walls, which affect the overall strength of the building)
3.  Installation of a heavy water tank on the roof.

In order to evacuate people from buildings and provide ways to rescue victims, it is necessary to: 

• Replace iron doors with wooden doors because, during the first shocks, iron doors usually bend and are difficult to open, and sometimes cannot be moved,
• Remove the metal bars from the windows of the first floor, and if you have used protective measures to ensure safety, attach the bars to the shutters that open directly because the windows are also a backup exit.
• Release exits and entrances, staircases, and corridors from bulky subjects

To ensure your safety in service and residential buildings:

• Securely fasten the furniture, machines, and devices to the floor and walls,
• Remove delicate electronic devices from the upper shelves and place them on the lower cabinets on special gaskets,
• Remove heavy subjects from the upper shelves and place them on separate pedestals,
• Securely fasten the containers with flammable and toxic liquids, check container fasteners and the reliability of the stoppers,
• Fasten the cylinder full of condensed gas and the water heater to the wall with wire pegs,
• Securely fasten hanging items and lighting devices to the ceiling,
• Place the beds against the load-bearing wall, away from windows. Do not hang bookshelves or pictures with heavy frames above the bed.

The following steps should be taken for your security: 

• Plan your actions during a possible earthquake in advance. It will help you avoid panic situations and act correctly at the time of an earthquake;
• Know the safest places in your house or workplace where you can shelter during an earthquake. It is necessary to familiarize your family members and employees with them.
• Determine the safest way out of the building and into an open space.

Make an appointment with family members and clarify (if you are in different parts of the settlement during the earthquake) the meeting place. 

• Master the forms of first aid and teach family members,
• Keep a bag with necessities at home near the entrance.

The followings should be in the bag:

• First aid kit (medicines, bandages)
• Battery-operated radio receiver and flashlight,
• Necessary documents and warm clothes,
• Canned food and a container full of drinking water (you need 3-4 liters of water for cooking and drinking).

As reported on August 31, at 1:25 pm,  the regional crisis management center of Tavush was alerted that grass is burning near the wine factory in the city of Ijevan.

Three combat units from the fire-rescue squad of the Regional Rescue Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations went to the scene.

It was found out that 5-6 ha of grassland is burning.

Three of the four directions of the fire have been extenguished, there are three smoking hearths in the fourth direction. 13 firefighters were on duty.

On Spetember 1, the operative group of the regional rescue department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and three combat units from the fire-rescue squads went to the scene of the incident in order to restart the fire-fighting operations.

About 7 ha of thicket and grass area was burnt.
——————–

On September 2, the operative group of the regional rescue department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and two combat units from the fire-rescue squads went to the scene of the incident in order to restart the fire-fighting operations.

About 7-8 ha grass is burning.

One helicopter of the Ministry of Defense and 102 fire-fighters are participating in the fire-fighting operations.

On September 3, the operative groups of the regional rescue department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and one combat unit from the fire-rescue squads went to the scene of the incident in order to restart the fire-fighting operations.

One helicopter of the Ministry of Defense and 82 rescue workers are participating in the fire-fighting operations.

Because of the darkness the fire-fighting operations were stopped and duty was established.

On September 4, at 07:30 am the fire-fighting operations started. 

80 rescue workers and 10 forestry workers are participating in the fire-fighting operations. 

On September 5, at 7am the fire-fighting operations started.

74 rescue workers and 23 employees of Ijevan forestry of “Hayantar” SNOC  took part in the fire-fighting operations.

Because of the darkness the fire-fighting operations were stopped and duty was established.



Compulsory, necessary, interesting

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES FELT IN ARMENIA

Answers from “THAT THE TRIAL WILL NOT BECOME A TROUBLE” book of Emergency Channel

Does an earthquake repeat? Are frequent earthquakes good or bad?

– Earthquakes tend to repeat. Mild concussions repeat frequently. Minor earthquakes sometimes contribute to energy depletion.

Is there a frequency of strong earthquakes in the RA?

– No. We can speak about the frequency of strong earthquakes in seismically active large regions. For small territories, like Armenia, this question is not correct.

Is it possible to predict a strong earthquake?

– The problem has not been solved yet. Scientific and applied works are carried out in this direction in the best seismological centers of the world, including the Seismic Protection Service of the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations. MES pays much attention to the modernization and re-equipment of the National Seismic Multi-Parameter Observations. There are several successful predictions; however, there are even more unjustified predictions. It can be said that the short-term prediction of earthquakes is not yet reliable. However, a short-term prediction based on the obvious signs is not ruled out.

What earthquake of maximum force can occur in the territory of the RA?

– According to professional estimates, the maximum magnitude of a possible earthquake in the RA can reach up to 7.5 or 10 points on the Richter scale. Earthquakes of this magnitude are rare and can only occur in some regionally active fault zones.

Do the representatives of the animal world feel the impending earthquake?

– Some representatives of the animal world feel the impending earthquake, especially cats, fish, dogs, rats, snakes, etc. However, this must be massive to be considered a sign of an earthquake.

Considering today’s situation, is the seismic risk of the territory of Armenia correctly assessed? 

– After the 1988 Spitak earthquake, some maps of the seismic hazard of the RA territory were made, with which the level of the seismic hazard in almost the entire territory of the republic increased by up to an average of 1, and in some places by 2-3 points. Today the lowest level of danger is estimated at 8 points and the highest at 9-10 points. In our opinion, such estimation is much closer to the real danger.

What causes earthquakes in the territory of the RA?

– According to the well-known scheme of the tectonics of the Earth’s plates, the Caucasus, including the territory of the RA, is located in the collision zone of the Arabian and Eurasian plates. Hence, the Arabian plate moves to the north-northeast at a speed of up to 2 cm per year, and the Eurasian plate is considered still. As a result, the Caucasus “squeezes” the accumulation of tectonic stresses that occurs in the earth’s crust, which eventually leads to sudden displacements of blocks or earthquakes. As the mentioned plate movements last millions of years; therefore, there will be earthquakes on the territory of our republic in the future as well.

How long will the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant withstand a strong earthquake?

– The Nuclear Power Plant belongs to a number of special purpose objects. It is under the control of both local and foreign specialists. It is one of the current earthquake-resistant structures of the RA and is designed for an earthquake of magnitude 9.

Was the Spitak Earthquake a natural earthquake or not?

– The Spitak earthquake was natural. Geological earthquakes have shown that there have been earthquakes in the past as well. During the earthquake, 1016 joules of energy were released, which is equivalent to the energy released by the simultaneous explosion of a hundred atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima. The hypocenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of 10-12 km. Mankind has only reached such a depth through drilling at one point, in the Kola Peninsula, after more than ten years of drilling. The Spitak earthquake is a well-studied classic earthquake with foreshocks, mainshocks, and aftershocks.

In case of a strong earthquake, what destruction can happen in Yerevan or any of its districts?

– RA buildings built before the 1990s don’t correspond to the seismic risk level of the area (they were designed with a low-risk assessment, the quality of construction was low, a large part of the buildings exceeded their service time, etc.); therefore, they are vulnerable. The Spitak Earthquake showed that the multistorey buildings built with large-panel and frame connection systems (designed by Badalyan) proved to be quite reliable and earthquake-resistant, while the frame-panel (111 series) and raised-floor buildings, on the contrary, are highly vulnerable.

Can multistorey buildings be built in Yerevan?

– Multistorey buildings can be built in Yerevan and the RA, if the geological features, sufficient ground conditions, and all the norms of earthquake-resistant construction are taken into the account

To what extent are RA settlements protected from the negative consequences of a strong earthquake?

– In order to reduce the negative consequences of a strong earthquake, the RA government developed a strategy in 1991; and in 1999 approved two complex seismic risk reduction programs for the territory of the Republic of Armenia and Yerevan. In 2002, the RA Law “On Seismic Protection,” the first in the CIS countries, was adopted. In 2010, the concept of ensuring seismic safety in Armenia was adopted, and, in the same year, a list of measures to ensure the fulfillment of its provisions. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia, with the participation of other departments, state administration, and local self-government bodies, carries out seismic risk reduction activities in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.

What are the main reasons for the large-scale destruction of buildings from strong earthquakes in the RA?

– The buildings and structures built before 1989 are seismically more vulnerable for several reasons. First, they were designed and built with a low level of seismic risk; then, the quality of the construction was low, the requirements of earthquake-resistant construction norms were not very strict, a certain number of buildings expired, and, finally, mistakes were made during the construction of buildings. This has resulted in reduced seismic resistance of buildings and structures. The seismic resistance of buildings built after 1989 is much higher.

How can the earthquake resistance of newly constructed residential buildings be ensured?

– First, it is necessary to study the engineering-geological and seismic conditions of the construction site of the building, based on which the building is designed based on the existing norms of earthquake-resistant construction. The building project must undergo a professional examination. The construction contractor and quality control should have the appropriate licenses. Any deviation from the approved project must be prohibited. While using the building all the developed rules should be followed, etc. In this case, the earthquake resistance of the building will be high

What is the main direction of ensuring the seismic safety of the country?

– To solve the problem, it is necessary to perform the following steps: reliably assess the seismic risk of the territory, asses the seismic vulnerability of the buildings and structures and the seismic risk of areas, and finally, perform the planned activities to reduce seismic risk. The last problem – risk reduction, is a complex, time-consuming, and expensive process.

Should we return home after a strong earthquake?

– After a strong earthquake, if you are outside or have left the apartment you do not need to return to the house immediately. It is necessary to go to an open area and wait for the official announcement.

What should be done during the shocks, and what is the safest place in the apartment?

– When earthquake shocks occur, and you are on the 1-3rd floors, you should quickly leave the building. If you are on higher floors, you should stand in the corners of the main load-bearing walls and the doorways, near the load-bearing columns, away from the external walls and windows.

Ներբեռնել

Սիրելի բարեկամներ, յուրաքանչյուրիս կյանքում էլ տարաբնույթ դեպք‐պատահարներ եղել են: Մի բան պատահել է, մեկս մյուսին օգնության է հասել: Նույնն էլ մեր պետությունը. որևէ մարզում աղետ է եղել, պետական կառույցներն արձագանքել են, հասել են, օգնել են, փրկել են, փոխհատուցել են: Ուշ թե շուտ, լավ թե վատ, այլ հարց է:

Այսօր ամբողջ աշխարհը փոխել է իր ռազմավարությունը՝ արձագանքման մշակույթից անցնելով կանխարգելման և համայնքների խոցելիության նվազեցման մշակույթին: Իսկ այդ մշակույթի հիմքը իրազեկված քաղաքացին է, մենք բոլորս և մեզնից յուրաքանչյուրը, ով գիտի, թե ինչ վտանգներ կան, ինչ է արտակարգ իրավիճակը, ինչ բնութագրեր ու դասակարգում ունի այն, ինչ են նշանակում խոցելիությունն ու կարողությունը, ինչպես է ձևավորվում աղետների ռիսկը և ինչպես կարելի է այն նվազեցնել, գիտակցում է, որ աղետների ռիսկի նվազեցումը մարդկային կյանքերի փրկություն է և ապրուստի միջոցների աղբյուրների պաշտպանություն, որ կանխարգելմանն ուղղված ֆինանսները ոչ թե ծախս են, այլ ներդրում, գիտի ինքնօգնության, փոխօգնության, առաջին նախաբժշկական օգնության տարրական հիմունքները, գնահատում ու պահպանում է անվտանգ ու առողջ շրջակա միջավայրը, կարողանում է գրագետ կառավարել հողը, ջուրը, օդը, արագ ուրբանիզացվող ու զարգացող, տեխնիկապես հագեցվող քաղաքային միջավայրը, նաև՝ կլիմայի փոփոխության ռիսկերը:

Մենք բոլորովին էլ այն քաղաքականության կողմնակիցը չենք, որը մարդկանց վախեցնում է աղետ‐բոբոներով՝ այ եթե չիրազեկվեք‐չպատրաստվեք, աղետը կգա ու կսրբի կտանի ձեր ունեցած‐չունեցածը, կվնասի ձեզ ու ձեր մերձավորներին՝ անկախ ձեր դիրքից, պաշտոնից ու կուսակցական պատկանելությունից: Ընդհակառակը, մենք ցանկանում ենք, որ դուք ինքներդ բացահայտեք, թե ինչ է պետք իմանալ, ձեր կյանքը բարելավելու և առավել անվտանգ դարձնելու համար, որն է աշխարհի լավագույն փորձը, ինչ աղետներ են պատուհասել ու սպառնում մեր երկրին, ինչ նոր մարտահրավերներ կան, ինչպես կարելի է հզորացնել ձեր կարողությունները, նվազեցնել խոցելիությունն ու մեղմել անկանխելի աղետի հետևանքները:

Խնդրում ենք գիրքն ընթերցել անշտապ ու կանգ առնել առանձին գլուխների վրա: Քննարկեք այն ձեր ընտանիքի անդամների ու գործընկերների հետ: Համադրեք այս հանրամատչելի ձեռնարկը Տեղական մակարդակում աղետների ռիսկի կառավարման ուղեցույցի հետ: Հիշեք, որ հենց ձեզանից, ձեր գիտելիքներից, հմտություն‐կարողությունից է կախված, թե արդյոք, փորձանք կդառնա վերահաս փորձությունը, թե՝ անցյալի գիրկն անցած, դիմագրավված ու հաղթահարված հերթական մարտահրավեր: