Svaneti crops destroyed by strong hail storm

Crops, orchards and farming land in Georgia’s highest inhabited area, Svaneti, have been "completely destroyed” by a powerful hail storm overnight.

Heavy rain and landslides in Lentekhi municipality isolated several villages from the surrounding area. The bad weather particularly affected two villages; Fangani and Levshero.

Large hail inflicted serious damage in Lentekhi municipality villages. The local Governor said it was "a terrible situation” and several villages in Svaneti were in a bad state.

He said many crops and harvest, orchards and agricultural land and livestock had been destroyed and ruined.

A special group has been established to assess the damage of last night’s storm.

Georgia’s Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure are involved in clean-up works in Lentekhi region.