The fire caused by the strong explosion at the Surmalu shopping center in Yerevan Sunday is completely under control. Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia, Davit Hambaryan, told reporters about this Monday morning.

He noted, however, that there is no need to engage a large number of volunteers and additional equipment.

"We are dealing with materials that cannot be noted about extinguishing the fire until the fire extinguishing works are completed on all floors. The material is highly flammable; we are not dealing with a standard fire. There is no danger of explosion; there is a probability of the remaining materials possibly catching fire. We are dealing with highly flammable materials that were stored in warehouses. Basically, the fire happened in the storage areas," Hambaryan said.

The deputy emergency minister added that 15 people are currently being searched for.

We reported earlier that at 1:23pm on Sunday, the National Crisis Management Center received a report that an explosion had occurred at the Surmalu shopping center in Yerevan. According to preliminary data, there was an explosion and an ensuing fire. There are six casualties, and the number of injured exceeds sixty.

The Ministry of Health had reported that 21 victims of this explosion continue to be treated at various hospitals, and they are in moderate condition.

Criminal proceedings have been launched into this strong explosion.