Six missing after landslide at Georgia-Russia border

Six people are missing following a landslide this morning near Gveleti village, 20km away from the construction site of the Dariali Hydro Power Plant (HPP) in northern Georgia near the Russian border, say authorities after travelling to the landslide-hit territory. 

In total, 164 people were rescued from the landslide-hit territory.

Twelve workers were rescued after becoming trapped in a planned HPP tunnel, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. 

All of the people involved in the accident are believed to be Turkish citizens, including one who was taken to hospital with a broken leg.

Georgian rescue teams recovered one survivor from a truck. Another man remained in a second truck. Authorities said rescuers have spared to efforts to recover the deceased driver. 

Fresh mudslides have blocked the Georgian Military Road, a major route through the Caucasus from Georgia to Russia, are causing significant traffic delays.

All relevant Governmental structures, including rescue and emergency services and army officers were mobilized at the region.

The mudslide caused major damage to the North-South gas pipeline that transports natural gas from Russia to Armenia thorough Georgia. As a result, gas has been temporarily stopped from travelling along this route.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement that said officials from Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Situations had been in touch with Georgian authorities following the landslide near the Russian border. 

Georgia’s Prime Minister and the President of Georgia, as well as various Government Ministers, are in the region to offer their support following this morning’s disaster.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili instructed an emergency response following the landslide, which occurred when a section of mountainside collapsed. 

It is not yet clear what caused the landslide.  

President Giorgi Margvelashvili said landslide rubble would be removed, and it was essential to determine if there were any possible risks of future landslides.