Int’l experts complete inspection of Gudauri ski-lift accident
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International experts invited by the government of Georgia have completed their inspection in the country’s mountainous Gudauri ski resort, to determine the reasons of the ski-lift accident on March 16 which left 11 people with minor and moderate injuries.
Experts from the world leading Bureau Veritas have been checking the site as well as the ski-lift-related documentation over the past three days, the Georgian Economy Ministry has stated.
Now the experts will draft their report over the reasons of the malfunction,” the ministry reported.
Experts from the Austrian Doppelmayr Garaventa group, which installed the ski-lift in 2007, were also present to carry out their inspection.
The experts of the ski-lift producer that has 14,400 ski-lifts installed worldwide arrived the same day of the incident and stated that they conducted their work years ago in full line with safety standards.
Inviting of the experts from the international Bureau Veritas headquartered in France was initiated by the Georgian government, as "it was in the country’s interests” the best agency for the safety inspection, which has been operating since 1828, to provide its conclusion over the case.
Experts of Bureau Veritas will provide a report about the reason of the ski-lift malfunction. Photo from the Economy Ministry press office.
Nearly half of the injured tourists, who were from Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, and Sweden, have been discharged the same day of the incident as they suffered minor injuries.
Only one tourist was operated on as she suffered from fractions. She is the only who remains in hospital now.
A pregnant woman from Sweden has been discharged from Tbilisi Mediclub Georgia hospital earlier today, as her pregnancy and health were not at any risk.
The ski-lift on the Sadzele slope of Gudari moved reverse and threw passengers down. Many of the passengers jumped down themselves to avoid a clash.
It is speculated that the culprit may have been a voltage fluctuation or brake issues.
However, Energo Pro Georgia, a company providing Gudauri with electricity, has excluded any power-related flaw.
Only six out of 11 of those injured remain in hospitals in the capital of Tbilisi. One of the Russian tourists injured in yesterday’s accident, Oleg Vitrov, immediately returned to Gudauri after he was discharged from the Ghudushauri hospital. Those who still remain in hospital are under state care.
"We will do everything to ensure the maximum safety of our citizens and tourists, to protect the international reputation that our country has built, including through its ski resorts”, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
A ski-lift accident in Georgia’s eastern Gudauri resort has left 8 people with minor injuries, the Mountain Resorts Development Company of Georgia has reported. No fatalities have been recorded. One of the eight injured has already been discharged from hospital, the Georgian Health Minister David Sergeenko told the media.
Georgia’s leading ski resort Gudauri has been identified by an international cultural website as one of the ten Must-Try Ski Resorts You Had No Idea Existed.
The reason for the Gudauri ski-lift accident on March 16, which left 11 people with minor and moderate injuries, was human error. Experts from the world leading Bureau Veritas have been checking the site as well as the ski-lift documentation over the past few days, and today they presented the results of the inspection together with the Minister of Economy.
Experts from the Austrian Doppelmayr Garaventa group will arrive in Georgia to inspect all ski-lifts installed by the company in the country’s winter resorts of Hatsvali, Goderdzi, Bakuriani and Gudauri.
The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has filed charges against two operators of the Mountain Resorts Development Company in the Gudauri ski-lift accident on March 16, 2018 which left 11 people with minor and moderate injuries.