On 14 August 2022, at 13:23 local time, a large

explosion An explosion is a rapid expansion in volume associated with an extreme outward release of energy, usually with the generation of high temperatures and release of high-pressure gases. Supersonic explosions created by high explosives are known ...

took place in the Surmalu

shopping centre A shopping center (American English) or shopping centre (Commonwealth English), also called a shopping complex, shopping arcade, shopping plaza or galleria, is a group of shops built together, sometimes under one roof. The first known collec ...

in the

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

capital of

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , hy, Երևան , sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Y ...

. It caused widespread destruction and fire, leaving dozens of dead and injured. The explosion killed 16 people and injured 63, with nine missing as of 20 August.

Events

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

Response

The victims were named the following day.

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

Nikol Pashinyan Nikol Vovayi Pashinyan ( hy, Նիկոլ Վովայի Փաշինյան, ; born 1 June 1975) is an Armenian politician serving as the prime minister of Armenia since 8 May 2018. A journalist by profession, Pashinyan founded his own newspaper in 1 ...

visited the scene of the blast with

Mayor of Yerevan The Mayor of Yerevan () is head of the executive branch of Yerevan's government. The mayor is elected by the Yerevan City Council. Recent 2018 Yerevan City Council election, city council elections took place in 2018, 2017 Yerevan City Council elec ...

Hrachya Sargsyan Hrachya Sargsyan ( hy, Հրաչյա Սարգսյան; born February 13, 1985) is an Armenian politician. He became Mayor of Yerevan on 22 December 2021. He is a member of My Step Alliance party. He was elected Deputy Mayor per snap elections of Y ...

, 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.

References

August 2022 events in Armenia 2022 disasters in Armenia 2022 fires in Asia 2022 fires in Europe Explosions in 2022 2022 explosion Explosions in Armenia {{Armenia-hist-stub