Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Gnel Sanosyan, stated that the restoration work on the railroad damaged by flooding in the disaster zone of two provinces is progressing rapidly.
"Railroad restoration work is moving at a fairly good pace, and we may start operation earlier than expected," the minister said during a government meeting on June 14, commenting on the aftermath of the flooding in the Lori and Tavush provinces.
According to him, since June 5, the railroad has been operational up to Ayrum station, but it will be available for use with some restrictions in the coming days.
Sanosyan also reported ongoing bridge restoration efforts. "We are working with foreign partners who have sent their specialists to inspect the bridges and assess the restoration possibilities on-site," he added.
Earlier, BMG reported that the Armenian government declared a disaster zone in nine communities of the Tavush and Lori provinces following the devastating flood caused by heavy rains on May 25-26, 2024. These communities comprise 39 settlements with about 113,000 residents affected by the catastrophe.
Approximately 11 sections of the M4 interstate road have various damages, and the M6 road connecting Armenia to Georgia was damaged in 43 sections.
In the disaster zone, 24 bridges were also reported damaged, 16 of which are unusable. Some are small community bridges, while others are major bridges consisting of 6-7 spans that require complete replacement.
