PM says works in landslide aftermath proceeding “in timely manner”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said the Government was “doing its best” to carry out works to address the aftermath of a landslide that killed 19 in the country’s west last week “in a timely manner”.

The ongoing work in the resort of Shovi in Racha region involves search for 16 bodies, with Teimuraz Mghebrishvili, the head of the Emergency Management Service, confirming rescuers had recovered the body of a woman earlier today, bringing the total death toll to 19.

Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs

Mghebrishvili also said the rescue teams had reached a new location for their efforts. 

We found fragments of a car, which became the basis [for selecting a new area]. This particular perimeter has been studied, and the data that was available before the disaster gives us the basis that we can have certain [...] results from the search point of view. Today we worked at eight locations”, he said.

Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs

He added the renovation of a bridge near the sour springs in the resort area was expected to be completed today. 

The river is already in its bed there, and search works are going on at the same time”, he said.

The Roads Department of Georgia on Monday said more than 100 units of special equipment, including 86 pieces of heavy hardware, had been allocated to eight priority directions.  

Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs

Reservists of the 102nd Battalion of the Territorial Reserve of the National Guard's 10th Cadre Brigade joined servicemembers from the Georgian Defence Forces, who themselves had augmented professional rescuers in the work, on Tuesday. The Ministry of Defence said the reservists were working in three locations of the disaster area.