On September 18, the Aragatsotn Regional Rescue Department of the Rescue Service organized and conducted a demonstration special tactical training exercise on “Organization and implementation of rescue and search and rescue operations during a devastating earthquake” in the territory of No. 5 High School named after Norayr Sisakyan in Ashtarak. The training was led on site by the Head of the Aragatsotn Regional Rescue Department, r/s Colonel Menua Asatryan.

The purpose of the demonstration special tactical exercise was to test and improve the practical skills of the responding forces and the formations of the involved organizations during the implementation of search and rescue and disaster recovery operations.

The event was attended by employees from the Aragatsotn Regional Rescue Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Rescue Service, Fire and Rescue Squads of Aparan and Ashtarak, the representatives from the emergency service, Ashtarak Municipality and other services.

According to the exercise scenario, a strong earthquake of magnitude 5.5 occurred on 7 km northeast from Ashtarak town, The intensity of the earthquake in the epicenter was VIII. One of the school buildings was partially damaged. The collapses occurred on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors. There were conditional stuck casualties.

The exercise was conducted simultaneously in several locations. It started with an emergency call and response organization.

The responding forces arrived at the scene and conducted reconnaissance and situation assessment, as well as the distribution of training points according to conditional scene of rescue and disaster recovery operations.

The rescuers conducted the search and rescue operations on different floors of the school, as well as the evacuation of conditional casualties using ropes and providing first aid, while at the same time using special tools to extract a stuck citizen in a car due to a car accident in the area.

The ambulance service had set up a medical triage point on site, ensuring the provision of first aid and the transportation of victims to appropriate medical institutions.

All participants involved in the exercise had properly conducted the tasks set before them. At the end, the head of the exercise positively assessed the actions of the participants involved, once again noting that cooperation, mutual trust and joint activities were important prerequisites for an effective response, even in the most difficult situations.