Traffic restored after rain-induced landslide causes restrictions on Rikoti Pass, western Sachkhere municipality
Heavy overnight rains affected the Pass, a major crossing point, as well as the municipality of Sachkhere in the western Imereti region. Photo: Roads Department
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Traffic through the Rikoti Pass crossing between the eastern and western parts of Georgia has been restored following restrictions placed in sections of the area after it was hit by a landslide caused by rain between Wednesday and Thursday, the Roads Department said.
Heavy overnight rains affected the Pass, a major crossing point, as well as the municipality of Sachkhere in the western Imereti region.
Photo: Roads Department
The Department said the landslide that developed early in the morning had led to traffic restrictions in several areas on the kilometre 169 section of the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze Highway, before the affected locations were cleared in “intensive” works.
Wednesday’s adverse weather also affected the Sachkhere municipality, flooding the central part of the city of Sachkhere, entrance floors of residential houses and commercial spaces.
Heavy rain also caused problems in several villages of the municipality, damaging roads and agricultural areas.
Sachkhere Mayor said the local administration may seek assistance from the central Government due to the extent of the damage.
Light and passenger traffic will be able to use Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between the eastern and western parts of Georgia, for three hours longer daily, the Roads Department has announced.
Disaster relief works are underway in the eastern Georgian municipality of Gurjaani, located in the Kakheti region, where houses, roads and dozens of cars were hit by floods and damaged following heavy rains and hail on Thursday.
Heavy rainfall, hail and strong wind between Monday and Wednesday affected municipalities in the central and eastern Georgian regions, causing damage to buildings and floods in residential homes.
The special traffic mode on the Rikoti Pass crossing between the eastern and western parts of Georgia will be lifted before the start of the summer season, Georgia’s Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze announced on Tuesday.
Georgian Railway on Friday announced it was resuming its services between the capital city of Tbilisi and the western locations of Batumi and Zugdidi, after heavy rains in western regions caused a suspension in operations on Thursday.
Georgian Railway on Monday announced it was resuming its services between the capital city of Tbilisi and the western cities of Batumi, Poti and Zugdidi, after a landslide near the Marelisi station in the Imereti region caused a suspension in operations on Sunday.
Heavy rainfall and strong winds affected municipalities in western Georgian regions between Monday and Tuesday, causing damage to buildings and floods in residential homes.
The Interior Ministry said about 40 individuals have been evacuated from the disaster zone in Georgia’s western Shovi resort, after a landslide hit the area earlier during the day.
The Georgian Interior Ministry on Thursday said about 70 individuals had been transferred to a safe venue from the disaster area as a result of the ongoing rescue operations in the country’s western Oni municipality, after a landslide hit the area earlier during the day.
The ongoing rescue measures in the disaster area in the country’s western Oni municipality, after a landslide hit the area earlier during the day, were discussed at the emergency meeting in the Oni municipality City Hall, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
Georgia’s National Environment Agency on Monday said a heatwave was expected to raise temperatures across the country this week, with areas in the west of the country set to see 41 degrees.
Georgian Railway has resumed operation of its services from Tbilisi to the cities of Batumi and Borjomi after a rockfall in the capital city hit rail tracks in the Didube-Avchala district on Thursday.