Georgian Gov’t declares Monday mourning day after landslide in west

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said his Government had decided to declare Monday as a day of mourning following a landslide that hit western Georgia’s Shovi resort, killing at least seven people on Thursday.

In his announcement, Garibashvili also confirmed “active work will continue over the weekend” for rescue operations in the aftermath of the disaster, and sent his condolences to the families of the victims.

I would like to express my deep sorrow [and] [...] my condolences to the families of our citizens who unfortunately died as a result of this great tragedy [...] This is a very heavy tragedy, and the entire nation is united around it”, he noted.

Garibashvili also said natural disasters similar to Thursday’s landslide “happen in every country”, adding “any talk that it could have been avoided is very frivolous” and calling on the public to “unite, express solidarity and pray for these families”.

Rescue crews have been working in the disaster zone, evacuating 210 people and searching for around 35 individuals presumed missing in the aftermath of the landslide.