UPDATED: Borjomi Gorge fire extinguished

Updated: 12:58

A massive forest fire that broke out a week ago in Georgia’s Borjomi Gorge has been extinguished, but the special headquarters that was set up upon the Prime Minister’s order to handle the disaster remains in the gorge to follow the developments.

After a joint meeting earlier this morning, the Ministers of Interior, Defense and Energy studied the situation on the site from helicopters.

A massive forest fire that broke out a week ago in Georgia’s Borjomi Gorge has been largely extinguished, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said last night.

Kvirikashvili said the fire has been extinguished at all the hot spots; however, he said other minor locations will be dealt with in the coming days.

Photo: PM's press office.

Thanking everyone who contributed to firefighting process, Kvirikashvili said these people have managed "to save the wealth and beauty of our amazing forest".

I want to thank you for your devotion and heroism. I am proud that our country has such brave men”, Kvirikashvili addressed everyone engaged in firefighting operation.

Several thousands of people have been engaged in the firefighting operation that started last Sunday including:

• 1,000 soldiers from the Eastern Command of the Georgian Armed Forces,
• 1,500 Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani firefighters, rescuers and rangers,
• 650 representatives of the Georgian Interior Ministry’s special tasks groups
• 900 emergency servicemen and doctors.

Moreover, 9 Georgian, Azerbaijani, Turkish and Belarus helicopters have been battling the blaze.

Photo: PM's press office.

The special headquarters that was set up upon the Prime Minister’s order to handle the disaster remains in the gorge to follow the developments.