Blast and fire reported at Yerevan-based Nairit plant

An explosion followed by a subsequent fire occurred at the Yerevan-based ‘Nairit’ plant at 1:10 p.m. today. The Emergency Ministry reported that firefighters managed to put out the fire by 2 p.m. . According to early reports, 6 fire crews were dispatched to the incident scene.

However, later, there came reports that 10 fire crews were involved in the firefighting operation. As the Emergency Ministry reported, the fire had been triggered by an ethanol-varnish, a combustible liquid. The Ministry stated that there were no emissions from the hazardous substances and the smoke rising from the fire wasn’t dangerous for human health.

According to Karine Shahverdyan, former employee of the ‘Nairit’ plant, it’s unlikely that the blast could cause fire in other workshops. “Do you remember those 20 heads of the workshops at the ‘Nairit’ plant, who had recently been sacked allegedly because their job wasn’t important? One of the workshops, the head of which has been dismissed, is now ablaze. Of course, there were explosive substances there, and those people were dealing with those substances. They were doing a very important job. Their activity wasn’t senseless, as many people thought,” said an ex-employee

1. A blast was reported at the plant on 23 September 2006. Four employees were injured and 7 vehicles were damaged as a result of the incident.

2. Two explosions simultaneously occurred at the plant on 14 May 2009, claiming the lives of 4 plant employees.