Austrian experts evaluate flood risks in capital Tbilisi
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Austrian experts arrived in Georgia today to study the risk of future flooding in capital Tbilisi – 10 months on from the deadly flood that ravaged Tbilisi and left hundreds homeless.
The experts were invited by Georgia’s Minister of Environment to evaluate the flood risks in the basins of three tributaries of the Mtkvari River in the capital city.
The experts were welcomed to remain in Georgia for the duration of their research on the rivers Tsavkisistskali, Digmiskhevi and Khevdzmara.
It is understood the Austrian experts will survey the area, identify the at-risk areas of the river basins and offer recommendations to prevent loss of life or damage to infrastructure in future.
Georgia’s Environment Minister Gigla Agulashvili (L) said Georgia could benefit from foreign experience to reduce the risk of flooding in the capital city. Photo by the Ministry of Environment of Georgia.
Minister Agulashvili said these types of studies were necessary as they helped mitigate the risks of future disasters, and allowed the city to be better prepared for such instances.
The research comes almost a year after a deadly flood struck Tbilisi overnight on June 13 last year, in which 19 people died, dozens of Tbilisi Zoo animals were killed or injured and damage to infrastructure amounted to more than $50 million USD.
Watch the Agenda.ge documentary about the June 13 flood here.
Exactly three months on from the flood that destroyed Tbilisi Zoo, the animal park has reopened today.
Almost six days has passed since Tbilisi Zoo was hit by a flash flood, causing the death of hundreds of animals and leaving the animal park in a state of complete chaos.
Tbilisi Zoo is enjoying its first good news since the June 13 devastating flash flood, which killed 19 people and dozens of animals and destroyed much of the Zoo territory and nearby residences.
A disaster is unfolding in Georgia's capital Tbilisi. Heavy rain is causing major damage in Tbilisi's Vake-Saburtalo district. Roads have been swamped, cars have been washed away and houses have been severely flooded. Several animals have also escaped from Tbilisi Zoo.
Today marks exactly one year since Georgia’s capital Tbilisi was hit by a deadly flash flood, which turned out to be the city’s worst human and infrastructural disaster in years. Twenty-one people lost their lives in the flood on the evening of June 13, 2015. The bodies of two of these victims have still not been found.