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SCORES INJURED AS BALLOON BLASTS SPARK CHAOS AT ARMENIAN ELECTION RALLY
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24570350.html
04.05.2012
Armenia - Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's pre-eleciton
rally in Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan, 0 4May 2012 Ruzanna
Stepanian, Hovannes Shoghikian
At least 144 people were hospitalized with burns after mass explosions
of campaign balloons during a pre-election concert and rally held
in Yerevan's main square by President Serzh Sarkisian's Republican
Party of Armenia (HHK) late on Friday.
Eyewitnesses, including an RFE/RL cameraman, Sevak Grigorian, said
hundreds of gas-filled balloons held up by young HHK activists at
Republic Square exploded, sparking a massive firewall and injuring
dozens of them. Grigorian described cries in the crowd and chaotic
scenes resulting in a brief stampede that nearly caused him to lose
his camera.
"It was a huge blaze," said one woman at the scene.
Armenia - Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's pre-election
rally in Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan, 04May2012xArmenia -
Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's pre-election rally in
Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan, 04May2012 â~@~Kâ~@~KAbout two
dozen ambulances were rushed to the scene shortly after the blasts. An
ambulance doctor told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) that
some 50 mostly young people required hospitalization.
Citing "preliminary data," the Armenian Ministry of Emergency
Situations put the total number of injured and hospitalized people
at 144. In a written statement, the ministry said they are receiving
urgent treatment at eight Yerevan hospitals.
â~@~Kâ~@~KAn RFE/RL correspondent saw many of them outside a Yerevan
hospital specializing in treatment of burns. Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisian visited the hospital later in the evening. He spoke of only
about 50 persons injured in the blasts.
"These are mostly light burns," the premier told RFE/RL's Armenian
service outside the hospital. "Some of the victims have already
received first assistance and gone home."
The Armenian police were quick to launch an investigation. The chief
of Yerevan's police department, General Nerses Nazarian, suggested
that the explosions were most probably triggered by a cigarette or
a lighter. Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian service, Nazarian all but
ruled out the possibility of deliberate arson. "It was apparently an
accident," he said.
Armenia - Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's
pre-eleciton rally in Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan,
04May2012xArmenia - Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's
pre-eleciton rally in Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan, 04May2012
â~@~Kâ~@~Kâ~@~Kâ~@~KDespite the chaos and mass injuries, the HHK
campaign event was interrupted by only several minutes, with the show
moderator downplaying the accident and urging thousands of people
standing in the sprawling square to stay on.
President Sarkisian addressed the crowd shortly afterwards. He did
not mention the unprecedented emergency in his speech. The concert
continued after the speech.
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24570350.html
04.05.2012
Armenia - Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's pre-eleciton
rally in Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan, 0 4May 2012 Ruzanna
Stepanian, Hovannes Shoghikian
At least 144 people were hospitalized with burns after mass explosions
of campaign balloons during a pre-election concert and rally held
in Yerevan's main square by President Serzh Sarkisian's Republican
Party of Armenia (HHK) late on Friday.
Eyewitnesses, including an RFE/RL cameraman, Sevak Grigorian, said
hundreds of gas-filled balloons held up by young HHK activists at
Republic Square exploded, sparking a massive firewall and injuring
dozens of them. Grigorian described cries in the crowd and chaotic
scenes resulting in a brief stampede that nearly caused him to lose
his camera.
"It was a huge blaze," said one woman at the scene.
Armenia - Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's pre-election
rally in Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan, 04May2012xArmenia -
Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's pre-election rally in
Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan, 04May2012 â~@~Kâ~@~KAbout two
dozen ambulances were rushed to the scene shortly after the blasts. An
ambulance doctor told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) that
some 50 mostly young people required hospitalization.
Citing "preliminary data," the Armenian Ministry of Emergency
Situations put the total number of injured and hospitalized people
at 144. In a written statement, the ministry said they are receiving
urgent treatment at eight Yerevan hospitals.
â~@~Kâ~@~KAn RFE/RL correspondent saw many of them outside a Yerevan
hospital specializing in treatment of burns. Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisian visited the hospital later in the evening. He spoke of only
about 50 persons injured in the blasts.
"These are mostly light burns," the premier told RFE/RL's Armenian
service outside the hospital. "Some of the victims have already
received first assistance and gone home."
The Armenian police were quick to launch an investigation. The chief
of Yerevan's police department, General Nerses Nazarian, suggested
that the explosions were most probably triggered by a cigarette or
a lighter. Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian service, Nazarian all but
ruled out the possibility of deliberate arson. "It was apparently an
accident," he said.
Armenia - Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's
pre-eleciton rally in Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan,
04May2012xArmenia - Gas-baloons blow up during Republican party's
pre-eleciton rally in Yerevan's Republic square, Yerevan, 04May2012
â~@~Kâ~@~Kâ~@~Kâ~@~KDespite the chaos and mass injuries, the HHK
campaign event was interrupted by only several minutes, with the show
moderator downplaying the accident and urging thousands of people
standing in the sprawling square to stay on.
President Sarkisian addressed the crowd shortly afterwards. He did
not mention the unprecedented emergency in his speech. The concert
continued after the speech.