Tbilisi flooding: Government mobilises resources to help victims

The Georgian Government will allocate 10 million GEL to Tbilisi City Hall to combat the damage caused by major flooding in the country’s capital overnight.

Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced this news during the Crisis Management Council meeting today, which was attended by all ministers and Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania.

"Today I will sign a document for allocation of 10 million GEL to City Hall to finance renovation works,” Garibashvili said.

The Georgian PM also instructed Council members not to let a single person or family, that has suffered from the flood, go unnoticed.

Georgian officials are still assessing the damage caused by major flooding in Georgia's capital Tbilisi overnight.

"In the coming hours, we will have our first meeting with the donors. The Finance Minister has already spoken to them. All available resources will be mobilised to help the population. I want to ensure the ministers don't leave a single family without attention. We should calculate the loss of each family and provide maximum assistance,” he noted.

Garibashvili declared June 15 as a day of mourning, in recognition of the dozens of people who died during and immediately after the catastrophe.

He noted every family who had lost a loved one would receive 10,000 GEL (about 4,500 USD) financial aid from the state.

At the Council meeting the Georgian PM also talked about the wild animals that had escaped from Tbilisi Zoo. He called on the local population to remain in their homes, and if they did see any wild animal roaming, to dial the police hotline 112.

Rescuers lead the escaped hippopotamus back flooded Tbilisi Zoo. 

In addition, Garibashvili thanked the rescuers who had helped the local population during the night and continued to offer assistance today. He said their efforts had saved the lives of many people.

Furthermore, he expressed gratitude to local residents who had volunteered to help and were still providing physical and material assistance in the disaster area. He noted there were enough volunteers at this stage and people should remain at home and keep their families safe. 

Georgia's Minister of Environment Gigla Agulashvili also spoke at the Crisis Management Council and noted it would be better if the rescue operation was suspended tonight. He said there were still places that were damaged, minor chance of further danger and potential another disaster would repeat tonight.

"Sediment is expected this evening as well, but not to the extent it was yesterday. We are waiting for more rain tomorrow. So we think that during the night the rescue works should stop. The probability is not big but the repetition of the disaster is possible and it will be wise to continue working tomorrow,” Agulashvili said.

The latest report stated 12 people had died and 24 were currently missing after the incident last night.

According to Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri, the latest data showed 12 people had died and 24 remained missing after the incident.

Moreover, dozens of families have lost their homes. Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania said as of 7pm Sunday evening, 45 families had been given temporary homes in hotels and apartments, as their residences were uninhabitable.