Georgia mourns victims of Tbilisi flood
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Georgia is mourning the loss of a dozen people who died in a major flash flood in capital city Tbilisi on Saturday night.
Churches around Georgia rang their bells at 12pm as part of the national day of mourning to honour the victims of the Tbilisi flood.
In memory of the 12 people who lost their lives, flags were flown at half-mast at Governmental buildings, including the Presidential Palace.
June 15 was declared as a non-work day in Tbilisi upon the decision of the Government.
However, services vital to the recovery efforts, the Emergency Headquarters, the Interior Ministry, Ministry of Health, Finance Ministry, Tbilisi City Hall and its services, the National Bank and other commercial banks will remain operating today.
The Government said its decision to cancel the work day aimed to conduct the disaster relief efforts and reduce traffic in the capital.
Officials said the 12 victims have been identified. However unofficial sources claimed more people had died during and immediately after the disaster.
The number of missing people has been reduced from 24 to 10, after 14 people returned home either last night or this morning. Rescuers are continuing to search for the missing 10 people.
At this stage 16 people are in Tbilisi hospitals and 300 are now facing homelessness as a result of the heavy rainfall in the capital.
Yesterday Georgia’s Prime Minister said every family who lost a loved one will receive 10,000 GEL (about 4,500 USD) from the Government.
The Georgian Government has already allocated 10 million GEL to Tbilisi City Hall to combat the damage caused by the major flooding.
Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri yesterday said a preliminary estimate put damages at 40 million GEL (about $18 million USD).
Tbilisi residents and people from nearby cities have started to bring food, warm clothes and other vital items to municipal centres to help those whose houses were completely swept away by the swollen Vere river.
Take a look at this incredible aerial video shot by drone above the Vere river valley in central Tbilisi. The footage shows the scale of the damage caused by the Saturday night flood.
Fourteen people who were reported missing after Sunday morning’s deadly Tbilisi flood have shown up safe and well and are now recovering from their ordeal with their loved ones.
In recognition of the dozen people who died during and after the natural disaster in Georgia's capital Tbilisi, June 15 is declared as a day of mourning.
Georgian officials have confirmed a 10th person has died following major flooding in Georgia's capital Tbilisi overnight. Several wild animals that escaped from Tbilisi Zoo, including tigers, bears and wolves, are still on the loose in city streets.
At least eight people have been killed and dozens remain missing following yesterday’s major flooding in Tbilisi.
A disaster is unfolding in Georgia's capital Tbilisi. Heavy rain is causing major damage in Tbilisi's Vake-Saburtalo district. Roads have been swamped, cars have been washed away and houses have been severely flooded. Several animals have also escaped from Tbilisi Zoo.
Three lions, two bears, a tiger, jaguar and wolf could still be roaming Tbilisi streets following the massive flooding that destroyed the zoo in the Georgian capital on Sunday morning.
The international community is offering assistance and standing in solidarity with Georgia and its people following the deadly flood that hit Tbilisi on Saturday night.
Solidarity is the best word to describe the situation in Tbilisi today as hundreds volunteered to help the affected families and clean the city’s streets after Saturday night’s deadly flood.
Authorities have discovered the bodies of two more victims of the Tbilisi flood, bringing the death toll to 14.
Georgia’s Ministry of Environment Protection created a video which reconstructs the events of the terrible disaster of Saturday night.
A landslide has blocked the road that connects Georgia’s capital Tbilisi to nearby summer resort areas Tskneti and Betania.
Authorities have discovered the bodies of two more flood victims. This news comes five days after the natural disaster, bringing the total death toll to 21.
Special recovery teams will spend the day clearing debris, removing mud and pumping water from water-clogged animal cages at Tbilisi Zoo and nearby territory to help the city recover from the June 13 deadly flash flood.
The Government of Hungary has donated 32,000 euros in support of families affected by a major flash flood in the summer of 2015 in Tbilisi.