UPDATED: About 40 individuals evacuated from landslide-affected resort in Georgia’s west
The body told agenda.ge one helicopter crew had already arrived in the location, and added further hardware would be used for the rescue efforts. The Ministry also confirmed no casualties had been reported following the landslide. Photo: Interior Ministry press center
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Updated: 19:51
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.
Earlier at 19:30
Twelve individuals, including five children, have been evacuated from the disaster zone in Georgia’s western Shovi resort, after a landslide hit the area earlier during the day, the Interior Ministry’s press office said.
The Roads Department of Georgia earlier said it would start “as soon as possible” the clearing and restoration works of the damaged road of Shovi resort.
The body noted the bridges on the 136th and 139th kilometres of the Kutaisi-Alpana-Mamisoni pass highway had been swept away by the landslide, adding the movement of all types of vehicles was prohibited on the mentioned sections of the road.
One of the guests of the Sunset Shovi hotel, affected by the landslide, said about 40 guests were stranded in the vicinity of the hotel, including 12 children.
Photo via Roads Department of Georgia
Earlier at 18:52
Georgia's Interior Ministry on Thursday said emergency management service rescuers and police unit representatives were heading to Shovi resort in the country’s western Racha region after a landslide hit the area earlier during the day.
The body told agenda.ge one helicopter crew had already arrived in the location, and added further hardware would be used for the rescue efforts. The Ministry also confirmed no casualties had been reported following the landslide.
Kristina Kobakhidze, the First Deputy Governor of the Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti region, told media the central road and bridge to the resort had been swept by the landslide, with “problematic sections” developing from the entrance to Shovi.
State Governor Papuna Margvelidze told the Georgian Public Broadcaster authorities were in contact with those affected, adding cottages in the resort had been destroyed.
He added rescue work was already ongoing, with evacuation of individuals from the location included in the plan for the crews.