Heavy snow blocks two Georgian customs checkpoints, main roads

Heavy snowfall has temporarily shut down Georgian customs services at the Georgian-Russian and Georgian-Armenian borders and caused traffic problems on several international roads.

The Dariali and Kartsakhi customs checkpoints are on emergency alert for the whole day.

Heavy snow, strong wind and risk of avalanche have made it impossible for cars to move in and out of Georgia at some points. 

Roads are closed at the Gudauri-Kobi section of the Mtskheta-Stepantsinda-Larsi highway due to avalanche danger. The Akhalkalaki-Kartsakhi highway is closed to trailers, semi-trailers and buses with more than 30 seats, while movement is open to regular cars. 

Movement is prohibited for all types of vehicles in Southern Georgia on the Akhaltshike-Ninotsminda highway near the Armenian border, announced the Roads Department of Georgia.

Road movement is prohibited on the following road sections:

• Kala-Ushguli
• Paravani-Ninotsminda
• Akhalkalaki-Kartsakhi
• Akhaltshike-Ninotsminda
• Gudauri-Kobi

Restrictions are imposed on Pasanauri-Gudauri road section, said the Roads Department of Georgia.

Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that rescue teams and employees of the patrol police and criminal police are helping people who are stuck on the closed roads to take them to safe points. 

There is live camera feed on the webpage of the Revenue Service of Georgia which allows people to watch the current situation at customs checkpoints of Georgia.

Meanwhile, there is a 4-5 magnitude storm in Georgia’s Black Sea resort town of Batumi.