In Orsha, a ceremony was held to award rescuers of the Vitebsk region who distinguished themselves during the liquidation of a fire in a shopping centre in Vitebsk on 13 December 2024. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the press service of the regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES).

The fire in the shopping centre was one of the largest in the republic in the last five years. 23 units of high-rise and adapted fire-fighting equipment and 99 MES employees were deployed to combat the blaze. Four combat sectors were established at the emergency site for the search and rescue of people with simultaneous water jet application to extinguish the source of the fire; 14 gas and smoke protection service teams were in operation. The fire covered an area of 2,000 sq.m. Ten people were rescued from the burning building by MES employees.

"In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus, 34 rescuers were awarded for their skillful leadership of the actions of emergency response bodies and units in protecting the lives and health of people, and the territory of the Republic of Belarus from natural and man-made emergencies, as well as for their courage and selflessness shown in the line of duty," the department's press service emphasised.

MES employees received badges and certificates of honour. Congratulating the rescuers, the head of the regional MES department, Sergey Meshkin, noted that 13 officers and 21 privates were awarded high honours. "The MES units in the Vitebsk region are ready to perform any tasks to protect the population of Belarus and its territory from emergencies," he stressed.

Furthermore, 17 more rescuers from the Vitebsk region were awarded the medal "For Impeccable Service" of the III degree today for exemplary performance of their official duties.

"To promptly eliminate emerging emergencies, rescuers train their skills and capabilities daily. In 2024, emergency response units of the Vitebsk region conducted 130 tactical special exercises to practically train and acquire skills in emergency response," reported Sofya Glinskaya, the official representative of the regional MES Department.

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