YEREVAN. – The Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations’ (MES) newly-formed State Fire and Technical Safety Inspectorate oversees the activities of the organizations that fill balloons with gas and which pump gas, MES Rescue Service Deputy Chief Nikolay Grigoryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.   

In his words, the Inspectorate oversees solely those organizations which are registered and have undergone testing. According to Grigoryan, all such organizations are registered and inspected.

“But it is difficult to inspect the gas pumping stations that are mobile,” he added.

Grigoryan also noted that balloons are supposed to be filled with helium gas, and said he is uninformed as to what the balloons that exploded were filled with.   

To note, in an interview with RIA Novosti News Agency of Russia, Nikolay Grigoryan had informed that the balloons were filed with helium gas and the fire could have been caused by a burning cigarette.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, a tragedy occurred during the Republican Party of Armenia’s rally held at capital Yerevan’s Republic Square on Friday. Hundreds of balloons filled with gas exploded and started to burn. Subsequently, the balloons’ melted rubber fell on the rally participants. Those near the stage were affected the most, a total of 154 people were injured and 69 of them were discharged from hospitals after receiving medical assistance.