"HOPE 2023" exercises successfully completed in Armenia

ArmInfo.The international HOPE FSX  2023 was successfully completed in Armenia, the practical  part of which began on October 10. It was no coincidence that the topic of the exercise was the response to a major earthquake, the press service of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.

According to the scenario, early in the morning a devastating  earthquake struck Armenia, the epicenter of which was 8 kilometers  northeast of Garni, the intensity of the shock wave was 8-9 points.  The underground disaster caused the most destruction to the Kotayk  region of the republic.

The forces of the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,  the Yerevan Municipality  and the administration of the Kotayk region  are beginning response measures. In earthquakes of this magnitude,  the destruction is typically extensive, and no single country can  provide relief to all affected communities. An international appeal  for humanitarian assistance has been launched through the Ministry of  Foreign Affairs and the Emergency Response Coordination Center of the  European Human Protection Mechanism has been activated. Within 24  hours, European population protection teams, including teams from  Georgia, Greece, France, Montenegro and North Macedonia, arrive in  Armenia by air and land. Rescue forces meet the arriving groups at  the Bagratashen border checkpoint and at the Zvartnots international  airport and direct them to the operational center of Lusakert, Kotayk  region.

Urban search and rescue operations begin in collaboration with local  forces. In the settlements of Argel and Arzni, Kotayk region, early  in the morning, activities begin to transfer international groups to  the disaster zone and organize gatherings of command personnel for  search and rescue operations. In the village of Argel, which is the  operational base, in addition to local forces, 6 urban search and  rescue teams set up tents and carry out rescue operations together  with local emergency authorities.

At three training grounds located in the Arzni Valley, active work  simultaneously begins to open the rubble, search for victims with the  help of canine teams, extract victims from buildings and cars using  hydraulic tools, and provide them with first aid. Search and rescue  operations are accompanied by reconnaissance conducted by drones, and  a helicopter from the RA Ministry of Defense is involved in the work  to take the seriously wounded out of the valley. Historical and  cultural monuments in the city of Yerevan - the Erebuni Historical  and Archaeological Museum-Reserve and the Armenian Genocide  Museum-Institute - were also damaged by an  earthquake. The Armenian  Red Cross and the volunteer organization provide assistance in  the rubble, providing the necessary first aid. At the same time,  rescuers, with the help of employees, are evacuating museum exhibits.

According to the scenario, a fire breaks out in a special school for  children with mental and physical disabilities as a result of an  earthquake; employees of the Rescue Services and the Psychological  Support Department are working on the spot. The goal is the safe  evacuation of children and personnel and provision of psychological  assistance to them. Active search and rescue operations continue  throughout the night at locations located in the cities of Abovyan  and Charentsavan, with the participation of international and local  rescue teams and canine teams.