Strong wind and heavy rain expected in Western Georgia

Georgian officials are warning the population of western Georgia to be prepared for strong wind and heavy rain over the next few days.

The Security and Crisis Management Council of the Government of Georgia have advised people to avoid walking alongside the coastal shoreline and near rivers, and to keep their poultry and cattle away from dangerous areas after weather experts forecast strong wind and heavy rain to hit the country from this evening.

A statement released by the Council said the water levels in rivers was expected to rise to dangerous levels. Severe storms were forecast at Georgia’s Black Sea as well.

"This amount of precipitation could cause a mud flow or landslide especially in the mountainous Adjara region, Guria and Samegrelo high zones,” read the statement.

Meteorologists expected the bad weather to last until Monday evening. From then, the rainfall and wind gusts are set to drop.

A special emergency support group has been established under the Security and Crisis Management Council who are tasked with coordinating preventative measures to combat the storm. Relevant central and local government units were mobilised to fight the disaster and if necessary, people can phone the emergency assistance hotline 112, which operated 24 hours day.

Georgia’s Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Davit Shavliashvili left for western Georgia today with head of the Roads Department to attend a special meeting in Kutaisi where they will plan ways to prevent natural disasters with the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Deputy Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources.