Forest fire in Lentekhi, Mestia, to be localised by end of day

The governor of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Archil Japaridze says a fire that has erupted in the forest of Zeskho village in Lentekhi municipality, Svaneti region, will be localised by the end of the day.

Japaridze says that 120 firefighters and one helicopter will be sufficient to cope with the fire caused by a thunderstrike. 

The professionalism of our firefighters has signficant results and we are expecting that all fire locations will be localised by the end of the day.

120 firefighters remained on location during the past 19 hours. Photo: Emergency State Service press office.

We have no open locations of fire for now as the fire is nearly extinguished. However, to minimise the risk of a re-blaze the firefighters will enter the forest as soon as the helicopter completes its work,” Japaridze said.

He stated that it was impossible for the fire to have been caused by the negligence of either locals or tourists, as the slopes are too steep for people. 

Japaridze said that 2.5 hectares of forest have burnt.