YEREVAN. – There is a seismic activity in our region and this is at the focus of attention of Armenia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), said Hrachya Petrosyan, MES Head of the Armenian National Seismic Protection Service, during a press conference on Monday. 

“Following the [underground] shakings at Azerbaijan’s Zaqatala locality, we noted back in early May that there is a deficit of separated energy in the region, and a magnitude-5 earthquake was registered in Zaqatala shortly thereafter.  

Three weak tremors, with a magnitude of 3-4, were recorded in Armenia today [i.e., Monday] nearby Gyumri [City] and Ashotsk [village], but I should note that these are not connected whatsoever with the earthquake in Azerbaijan,” Hrachya Petrosyan said.  

In his turn, MES Rescue Service Deputy Chief Nikolay Grigoryan added that, as a result of the joint program being carried out with Japanese specialists, the capital city Yerevan residents will soon be able to receive on their cell phones SMS messages with regard to an earthquake that occurred.