Scrub fire burning in Borjomi, central Georgia

Firefighters and rescue forces are battling a large scrub fire near the central Georgian town of Borjomi.

The crews have spent most of today trying to extinguish the fire, which started sometime last evening in the forest of the village Dviri, officials said this afternoon.

The fire is under control but has not been fully extinguished yet, said experts at the scene. Despite this the blaze has been localised and did not pose a threat to local residential areas.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources said the fire engulfed between four and five hectares of Borjomi-Bakuriani forest area, which caused major damage to shrubbery and burned one hectare of spruce groves.

The Ministry said during the night specialist equipment and two helicopters were mobilised on the territory. Furthermore, representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resourses' Forestry Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs Emergency Situations Departments, rescue services and 150 firefighters were called to the scene to fight the blaze.

Samtskhe-Javakheti Governor Akaki Machutidze said special force officers were doing everything in their power and there was no nofficers the local community to feel threatened.

"The cause of the fire is yet unknown but an investigation has already started. The fire has been localised but it is too early to talk about it being extinguished,” he said.

Experts will remain at the scene until the fire is fully extinguished.