Four persons lost in fire at "Nairit" chemical factory in Yerevan

The bosses of the chemical factory "Nairit" in Yerevan, where a strong fire occurred in the evening on May 14, announced the names of their four lost workers. Russia has expressed its readiness to help Armenia in liquidating the accident consequences.

We remind you that the fire started at the factory at about 5:40 p.m. on local time in Yerevan after an explosion. Eyewitnesses say about two explosions: after the first one the fire started, while the second took place already during fire suppression and was so powerful that it was felt several kilometres away. The fire and explosion were so strong that they could be seen from anywhere in Yerevan.

Anush Arutyunyan, press secretary of "Nairit", reported that the accident killed Levon Levonyan, 50, shift manager of the chloroprene shop; Ovannes Ovannisyan, 51, foreman and hydrochlorination operator; Vaan Grigoryan, 50, distillation operator; and Arthur Karapetyan, 39, a mechanic-repairman.

"The factory directorate not only condoles over the death of the workers but plans to render help to their families," said Ms Arutyunyan. According to her story, apart from the casualties, eight more persons were injured: four factory workers and four rescuers; their health is out of danger.

As reported by the "News-Armenia" Agency, the reasons of the accident are unknown; a commission was set up to study the reasons and mitigate the implications of this technogenic catastrophe.

Arthur Rostomyan, executive director of the "Erebuni" medical centre, told the "Panorama.am" Agency that one of the persons injured by the explosion is still taking his treatment at the centre.

He has also noted that there is no threat to the life of the other seven victims. Mr Rostomyan has assured that no poisonings because of the explosion were registered.

The accident caused no harm to the environment and no hazardous emissions. Other factory process lines go on operating, as the "PanARMENIAN.Net" Agency reports.