UPDATED: Rescuers recover 21st body in Shovi landslide area

Updated: 14:36

Rescuers working in the area of the western Georgian resort of Shovi following a fatal landslide in the location on Wednesday recovered the body of the 21st victim of the disaster, Teimuraz Mgebrishvili, the head of the Emergency Situations Management Service, said on Wednesday.

The crews discovered the body while clearing the damage in the municipality of Oni, with the official telling the media 12 persons were still missing following the disaster.

Mgebrishvili said “active” search and rescue efforts were being carried out at nine locations in the landslide-affected zone.

Earlier at 13:22

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said rescuers had recovered the body of the 20th victim of the disaster in the western municipality of Oni while working in the aftermath of the landslide that hit Shovi resort on Thursday.

The Parliament official told a press briefing at the ruling Georgian Dream party headquarters in capital Tbilisi 13 individuals were still missing following the disaster.

He also called for “solidarity and support at such a critical moment”, and expressed his gratitude to residents of Glola, a village adjacent to the landslide-hit area, for their assistance.

Rescuers found one individual from the missing list alive, with over 200 people evacuated from the area.