ArmInfo. The operations of removal of the avalanche consequences at the Upper Lars checkpoint have been suspended, according to the press office of the Armenian Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies.
Spokesperson for the Armenian Transport Ministry Anahit Arakelyan says that the Ministry is in constant touch with the road construction services of Georgia. "All forces were mobilized to complete the operations as soon as possible, however, the snow-removal operations have been suspended due to the wind increase," Arakelyan says, adding that the operations will be continued today at 3 pm local time.
The press office of the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations previously told ArmInfo, citing the road construction service of South Ossetia that as many as 558 vehicles have gathered at the Upper Lars checkpoint, including 120 passenger cars, 13 minibuses, 5 buses and 420 trucks. The Upper Lars checkpoint was closed on Dec 4, at 10:03 am local time, due to the avalanche risk.
To note, the only overland road linking Armenia to Russia lies through the Upper Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border.