Heavy snow hits Georgia's main roads

Georgia’s mountainous regions are covered with a thick layer of snow as it is heavily snowing around Georgia since the last night.

Most massive snowfall was detected at Georgia’s leading ski resort Gudauri, where its depth reached 170 centimeters.

In addition, according to the Chief of the Forecast of the Environmental Protection Agency Naira Manvelishvili, last night snowfall was also identified in other mountainous places of Western and Eastern Georgia including: 

• Mestia
• Bakuriani
• Gori
• Shovi
• Pasanauri
• Stepantsminda 
• Rikoti Pass

Roads are closed at the Gudauri-Kobi section of the Mtskheta-Stepantsinda-Larsi highway due to the avalanche danger. Traffic movement is limited in Southern Georgia on Akhaltshike-Ninotsminda highway near the Armenian border.

It was snowing the whole day at Georgia's leading ski resort Gudauri. Photo by Kno Pkenstein

Today rescuers have saved more than 200 people who have been stuck on the highway connecting Georgia and Armenia due to the heavy snow and storm.

According to the press-speaker of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Nino Giorgobiani, among the rescued people were elderlies and children also.

"The police officers have saved about 200 people. Our employees were mobilised throughout the whole night due to the heavy storm and snow in the Ninotsminda region. The rescued people including infants and elderlies, which were safely distributed to the nearby houses of the local policemen. Head of the Ninotsminda Regional Police Department Giorgi Kikalishvili has rescued an one year and three months old child together with parents and took them to a safe place,” she said.

Giorgobiani also noted that police and rescue groups still continued working.

"The citizens stuck in snow are being transported to the safe places. Heavy equipment of the Road’s Departrment is involved in the process and road cleaning works are being actively carried out,” she announced.

Heavy snow started in Gudauri last night. Photo by Gudauri Official Facebook Page

As for the Western Georgia, currently it is raining in plain places, while it is heavily snowing in the mountainous regions.

Temperature started to decrease in Tbilisi as well and the capital of Georgia is also expecting to have a white Christmas tomorrow. (Georgian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7).

On January 7and 8, snow and heavy wind is expected throughout whole Georgia. In addition, temperature will decrease even more on January 8.

According to the weather forecast, snowing is expected to stop on January 9 throughout Georgia.