No trace of missing child in Armenian village as search enters 10th day

Search and rescue efforts for a missing 2-year-old child in the village of Marmarik entered the 10th day on May 13, with hundreds of rescuers, police officers and volunteers involved in the operation.

The 911 call on a missing child, 2-year-old Tigran Petrosyan from Marmarik, was made around midday, May 4, to the Kotayk Crisis Management Center. Authorities believe the child may have fallen into the nearby river, but other possible hypotheses of the disappearance are also under investigation.

Lt. Colonel Gevorg Sedrakyan, the Head of the Rescue Service’s Kotayk Department, told reporters that the search and rescue efforts will continue until the boy is found. 

“Intense search operations continue,” he said. 

“Approximately 250 rescuers including divers and special rescue service detachment officers are involved in the operation,” he added.

The search is focused not only in and along the Marmarik river, but also in the town and the Aghbyurak reservoir. 

“We haven’t achieved any result so far, we have no trace, we haven’t found any piece of clothing or item. We have installed nets in some parts of the river to be able to find something. The nets are installed in five sections where the river flow is calmer,” Lt. Colonel Sedrakyan said.

All possible hypotheses behind the disappearance of the child are under investigation by police and rescuers, he said.

All buildings in Marmarik village and nearby settlements have been searched. 

Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search effort.