On December 5 as part of the events dedicated to Disaster Resilience Day, a practical training session on "Strong earthquake in Shirak province" was held at the RS Crisis Management National Center.

The training was conducted within the framework of "Improving Crisis Communication and Public Awareness for Disaster Risk Reduction" program of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the aim of assessing the realism of the established standard operating procedures in case of a strong earthquake, as well as evaluating the skills and preparedness of the participants.

During the training, teams were formed for simulations, involving personnel from the departments of the Crisis Management National Center and the Regional Crisis Management Centers of the Rescue Service.

As part of the practical exercise, according to a scenario an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 and 10 kilometers deep had conditionally registered on 11 km south-east from Gyumri town in Shirak province. The earthquake was also felt in Yerevan city, a number of settlements in Lori, Aragatsotn, Kotayk, Armavir, Ararat, Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor and Tavush provinces. Massive destruction had occurred, Gyumri airport and the railway station damaged, various buildings and structures collapsed, as well as there were numerous casualties and victims. Local roads had also been damaged.

During the practical training, the personnel of the subdivisions under the Crisis Management National Center organized the registration of emergency calls, processing and systematizing of data according to the established format. Thematic maps depicting the situation, including damaged infrastructure and recorded destruction as a result of the earthquake, were prepared. The operational information gathered was processed and published on the official platforms of the Rescue Service (RS) and distributed to the media. Throughout the simulation, continuous monitoring was conducted to prevent misinformation, the spread of fake, panic-inducing and misleading news, while simultaneously sharing useful information regarding potential risks and behavioral guidelines.

After the completion of the practical training, a final analysis was conducted, during which both the effectiveness of the actions conducted and the existing shortcomings were reviewed. The gaps were analyzed, areas for improvement were identified and participants were provided with instructions and recommendations for further improvement and enhancement of effectiveness.

It should be noted that efforts aimed at staff retraining and knowledge enhancement are always a priority for the leadership of the Rescue Service of MIA. Taking into account the lessons learned from past disasters, such events are an important step in ensuring a quick and proper response to disasters. Such activities help to more effectively cope with emergencies by creating clear and systematic response mechanisms, while also contributing to strengthening resilience and raising public awareness.