From September 24 to 26, a field exercise on "Implementation of search and rescue operations in case of an earthquake" was held in Shirak province with participation of the Search and Rescue Group of Shirak town.

The exercise was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the UN International Search and Rescue Advisory Group  (INSARAG) aiming to increase the level of training of urban search and rescue groups for international missions.

The field exercise was led by the Deputy Head of the Shirak Regional Rescue Department of Rescue Service, r/s Lieutenant Colonel Arsen Adamyan.

Before the launch of the exercise, working group of the Ministry of Internal Affairs led by the Assistant  Director of the Rescue Service of MIA Armen Gevorgyan conducted preparatory actions to prepare the participants for the training.

The exercise was attended by the rescuers included in the Gyumri No. 1 and No. 2 Fire and Rescue squads of the Search and Rescue Group of the Shirak Regional Rescue Department of the Rescue Service of MIA of RA.

The field exercise was held in Gyumri and Akhuryan communities. During the exercise, the participants played a series of intermediates, performing practical activities according to the workplaces.

The rescue groups carried out rope activities, reconnaissance, situation assessment, fastening actions, search and rescue operations, sorting point allocation in the conventional disaster zone, providing first aid to the casualties and moving to an ambulance.

Summarizing the results of the exercise and the conducted activity by the participants, both advantages and gaps were noted. It was ordered to implement exercises in order to act more professionally and competently at the next training.