Two detained for deadly explosion in Tbilisi

Two employees of the KazTransGas company have been detained for negligence and their responsibility for the deadly blast in Tbilisi on 16 January, killing four and leaving eight others injured.

The Georgian Interior Ministry says that  V.M., 61, and T.T., 27, employees KazTransGas Tbilisi, were called by residents of the building where the explosion took place on 16 January.

The individuals did not check the gas pipes properly and told the residents that the strong smell was from wall paints and not gas.

Several hours after their departure, the explosion took place,” the Interior Ministry says.

The ministry adds that an investigation is in progress and that all those at fault for the fatality will be held accountable.

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has stated that he tasked law enforcers to investigate the reasons behind the “huge tragedy” in the shortest term possible.

Those who made mistakes and did not fulfill their obligations properly will definitely be held accountable,” Bakhtadze said.

He stated that regulations may become tougher in terms of the installation of gas devices.

A lawyer says that the detainees do not admit to the crime.

Sister of one of the detainees told the media, that, as his brother says, he and his companion checked the whole building but the device, which measures gas concentration in the air, did not confirm the leak.

They walked up nine floors, as an elevator did not work, and checked each floor,” she told the media.

The same was stated by the KazTransGas company earlier today.