Death toll from Shovi landslide hits 22

Rescuers have recovered the body of the 22nd victim of the Shovi resort landslide in Georgia’s west, Teimuraz Mgebrishvili, the head of the Georgian Emergency Management Service, said on Friday, with at least 11 people still missing. 

• “All resources” used in Shovi landslide response efforts - Emergency Management Service head

Speaking to the media, the official said the body had been found in river Rioni, 20 kilometres from the disaster epicentre in the Oni municipality of the Racha region, adding the rescuers had also found lower limbs of a human body. 

He said boats had been involved in the search for the missing, and said the operation would also cover the Ambrolauri municipality of the region - more than 50 kilometres from Shovi. 

Mgebrishvili noted remains of domestic animals were being removed from the water in the location to prevent infections. 

Sergi Khidasheli, the Mayor of the municipality, on Friday said vehicles stuck following the landslide were being removed from the mud. He also said 19 of the 22 recovered bodies had been identified, and that local authorities would cover funeral expenses for victims from the municipality. 

The landslide hit cottages and other infrastructure in the resort in the afternoon of August 3, with over 800 professionals from the Emergency Management Service and the country’s Defence Forces involved in search and rescue efforts in its aftermath.