Current situation in Syria is difficult: Armenian ambassador

• 02.07.2023, 15:00
•  Near East,  World,  Armenia,  Diaspora

In the current situation, it is a difficult situation in Syria because there are serious destructions in the country, the rescue services are trying to do their best so that they can bring the persons under the rubble out as quickly as possible. The Republic of Armenia (RA) Ambassador to Syria, Tigran Gevorkian, stated this in an interview with Armenians Today, NEWS.am reports.

"Besides, weather conditions also create difficulties, especially in Aleppo and Latakia. At the moment, we have accurate data recorded on the death of two of our compatriots. They are mother and son. The husband and daughter were under the rubble, we received news that they were taken out and they are undergoing surgery. The RA Embassy in Damascus and the Consulate General in Aleppo have created working groups, operational headquarters, will be on duty 24 hours [a day]. Now data are being collected on whether there are RA citizens among the injured," said the ambassador.

According to him, there are no Armenians among the victims in Qamishli and Kesab towns.

"I am in contact several times a day with the mayor of Kesab, Vazken Chaparian, who informed me that we don’t have injuries among our compatriots [there]. The Armenian Church of Saint Astvatsatsin Church was slightly damaged. There are no serious injuries," Ambassador Gevorkian added.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred in Kahramanmaras Province of Turkey early Monday morning, as a result of which around 4,000 people were killed. The Syrian governorates of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, and Tartus were also affected. There, according to the latest data, 812 people were killed.

At approximately 14:25 Armenia time on the same day, another earthquake occurred with a magnitude of 7.6. According to Turkish seismologists, one of the most affected cities is Gaziantep.

Later, seismologists recorded three dozen aftershocks, and in the middle of the day—new strong tremors with a magnitude of 7.7. The earthquake was felt also in Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Georgia, and Abkhazia, and small aftershocks were recorded in Sochi, Russia.

And a third earthquake was recorded in Turkey on Tuesday at 7:13am Armenia time. It occurred in central Turkey, and with a magnitude of 5.6.