August 25 declared day of mourning in Georgia following tragic road accident resulting in 17 deaths

Flags on all government buildings across Georgia will be flying at half staff on August 25 as the day has been announced a day of mourning. Photo: State Security Service of Georgia.

Agenda.ge, 24 Aug 2020 - 12:18, Tbilisi,Georgia

Flags on all government buildings across Georgia will be flying at half staff on August 25 as the day has been announced a day of mourning in recognition of those who died during the tragic accident on Shatili road yesterday.

The Georgian Interior Ministry reported earlier that 12 people died and three others were badly injured in a road accident close to the village of Biso. However, the ministry later said the death toll had increased to 17. 

The ministry said that the minibus fell down a 80 meter rocky slope from the Shatili road.

As a result of the road accident on Zhinvali-Barisakho-Shatili main road N64, a mini bus fell over a rocky slope, from a height of approximately 80 meters. Due to the car accident, 17 people died and three were seriously injured... Despite the limited visibility, difficult weather and landscape conditions, the rescue operations continued in full swing until late in full compliance with safety standards. Criminal police, as well as patrol police crews, fire-rescuer teams of Emergency Situations Management Agency are mobilised at the scene", reads the statement published by the ministry.

The injured individuals were taken to a safe place by rescuers and transferred to a treatment facility by ambulance crews afterwards. At this moment they are under the supervision of medical personnel at the treatment facility.

An investigation into the accident has been launched.