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Armenia recorded 569 natural emergencies in the first half of 2026, up 39.1% from the same period last year, Acting Director of the Rescue Service and Acting Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aram Ghazaryan said.
The increase was driven by rises in flooding, which increased by 17 cases or 9.5 times; rockfalls, by 64 or 2.7 times; landslides, by nine or 5.5 times; snowstorms, by 50 or 5.5 times; black ice, by 92 or 78%; heavy snowfall, by 22 or 2.6 times; lightning, by three cases; and torrential rain, by seven or 38.9%.
According to Ghazaryan, 19 cases of flooding and rivers overflowing were registered, compared with two in 2025. In 16 cases, flooding was caused by rivers overflowing, in two by snowmelt and in one by heavy rainfall.
Three cases of rivers overflowing were registered in each of Lori Province (Pambak River, two cases, and Chichkhan River) and Ararat Province (Vedi, Sevjur and Azat rivers); two each in Gegharkunik (Masrik River), Syunik (Meghri and Norashenik rivers), Aragatsotn (Kasakh and Amberd rivers) and Vayots Dzor (Yeghegis River); and one each in Tavush (Khndzorut River) and Kotayk (Akunk River).
“During the reporting period, 102 rockfalls were registered (38 in 2025). Compared with the same period in 2025, there was a significant increase in the number of rockfalls, by 64. During the period under review, the highest figure was recorded in Syunik Province, with 34 cases: specifically, 10 cases were recorded in Kapan, 17 at various points along the Kapan-Sisian-Tatev road, five on the Kapan-Qajaran road, and one each on the Goris-Vorotan road and the road from Halidzor to the Devil’s Bridge.
“During the first half of the year, Rescue Service units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs carried out 12 forced rockfall operations on dangerous sections of the country’s roads, including one in Ararat Province, three in Gegharkunik and eight in Kotayk. Forced rockfall operations are carried out periodically,” Ghazaryan said.
He added that 11 landslides were registered across the country in the first half of 2026, compared with two in 2025.
Three cases were registered in Syunik Province. In Kapan, heavy rainfall activated a landslide, as a result of which about 1 cubic meter of soil and small trees ended up on the roadway.
A landslide was activated on the Tatev-Ltsen road, causing soil to spill onto the roadway and completely blocking traffic in both directions.
A landslide was activated on the Kapan-Chakaten road, causing 50 cubic meters of soil to spill onto the road and reducing traffic to one lane.
Six cases of landslides were registered in Kotayk Province, including three at various points along the Aghveran-Arzakan road, and one each at kilometer 2 of the Arzakan-Bjni road, in Hrazdan and in the Aghveran community. In all cases, soil spilled onto the roadway, obstructing traffic.
One case was registered in Yerevan, where a landslide covering approximately 4 square meters occurred on a section of road, causing an electricity pole to become unstable.
One case was registered in Vayots Dzor Province, where a landslide caused approximately 200 cubic meters of soil to slide down and block an inter-farm road. Fifteen fruit trees and 20 ornamental trees were uprooted.
“During the reporting period, 45 cases of strong winds were registered across the country (62 in 2025). Three cases of the dangerous natural phenomenon were registered in January, eight in February, five in April, 11 in May and 18 in June.
“Compared with the same period in 2025, there was a decrease of 17 cases, or 27.4%, in strong winds. Seven cases of strong winds were recorded in the capital, eight in Lori, six in Aragatsotn, seven in Gegharkunik, three each in Armavir, Syunik, Tavush and Kotayk, two each in Ararat and Vayots Dzor, and one in Shirak Province. A total of 87 building roofs, 19 vehicles, 45 trees and seven electricity poles were damaged,” Ghazaryan detailed.
In the first half of 2026, 13 cases of hail were registered across the country, compared with 30 in 2025. Compared with the same reporting period in 2025, the number of hail incidents decreased by 17, or 56.7%.
Three cases each were registered in Lori and Shirak, two each in Gegharkunik and Tavush, and one each in Aragatsotn, Kotayk and Vayots Dzor provinces. Hail damaged orchards, crops, cultivated fields, vegetable crops, solar stations, 3,409 vehicles and the roofs of 1,487 buildings.
A total of 307 cases of vehicles becoming stranded due to snowstorms, blizzards, heavy snowfall and black ice were registered, compared with 133 in 2025. Rescuers, together with police and Road Construction and Maintenance employees, freed 2,202 vehicles and transported 5,122 people to safe areas.
Socio-biological emergencies and incidents
A total of 1,115 socio-biological emergencies were registered across the country in the first half of 2026. In the same reporting period in 2025, 1,381 cases were recorded, meaning the number decreased by 266, or 19.3%.
The figures in the subcategories of socio-biological emergencies showed both increases and decreases.
As in 2003-2025, during the reporting period the vast majority of emergencies in this category, 90.2%, were cases of poisoning among people, compared with 94% in 2025. Relatively high figures were recorded in Armavir Province, with 176 cases, and Ararat Province, with 135 cases.
In the first half of 2026, four cases of drowning were registered in the country’s water bodies, compared with seven in 2025, resulting in the deaths of six people.
“From January 1 to June 30, 2026, the Psychological Support and Medical Provision Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Rescue Service registered 1,312 calls, 912 concerning psychological support and 400 concerning medical consultations.
“During the aforementioned period, personnel of the Psychological Support and Medical Provision Department made a total of 130 deployments to provide psychological and medical assistance, including 106 for psychological assistance (87 during the same period last year) and 24 for medical assistance,” the Acting Director of the Rescue Service and Acting Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs said.