YEREVAN -- Armenian authorities have stopped rescue work at the Surmalu market that was demolished by a deadly explosion 10 days ago after failing to find the last person still listed as missing following the blast in central Yerevan.
Emergency Ministry spokesman Haik Kostanian said on August 24 that all attempts to find Vanik Amirkhanian, the last person considered missing after the explosion that left at least 16 people dead, had failed.
The blast and subsequent fire at the Surmalu market sent a towering cloud of smoke over the Armenian capital on August 14. The explosion occurred in an area where fireworks and other pyrotechnics are stored.
Rescue teams managed to extract 10 survivors and 16 dead in the first two days after the explosion. Authorities launched a probe into the deadly explosion.
Officials have said the temperature at the site of the explosion exceeded 1,000 degrees Celsius, incinerating much of the area.
Operations at the site are now considered to be in the cleanup phase.