YEREVAN. – The Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) of Armenia has released a statement in connection with the recent tragic road crash in the Shirak Region.

“The accident has left no one apathetic.

“Receiving news of the accident, [and] upon the instruction of the Prime Minister of the country, ES [i.e. Emergency Situations] Minister Armen Yeritsyan immediately left for the scene of the incident to personally lead the rescue work.

“During the government’s regular session on November 13, the PM instructed the interested services to examine the causes and outcome of the accident, [and] to focus on organizing the treatment of the injured. At the same time, Premier Hovik Abrahamyan instructed the relevant bodies to study the international track-record in using [natural] gas cylinders.

“The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia thanks those who rendered assistance,” the MES statement reads, in particular.

A tragic road accident occurred on the evening of November 10 on Gyumri-Yerevan Highway, as a passenger van and a truck collided. As a result, the van exploded, seven passengers died on the spot, and another seven were hospitalized. The Police have launched an investigation, and the truck driver, Manvel Vardanyan, 44, is arrested. Criminal charges have been brought against him, and a two months’ detention has been set as his restraining order.