200 evacuated from landslide-hit areas in western Georgia
Tweet 
Share
At least 200 individuals have been evacuated from landslide-hit areas of the Guria region in Georgia’s west following heavy rains, flood and landslides last week that killed three, local authorities said on Monday.
Figures from the ruling Georgian Dream party told the press on Sunday rescue and cleaning work was in progress and pledged to ensure “maximum support” to affected communities.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Parliament Speaker, said rescuing the citizens and ensuring their transfer to safe locations was the “number one priority”, and added subsequent efforts would include provision of alternate accommodation to them if necessary.
Ozurgeti Mayor Avtandil Talakvadze has announced the launch of restoration of the critical infrastructure in the disaster-affected area, said "all necessities" had been ensured to the citizens affected by landslides and flood.
The official refrained from speaking about the damage inflicted to local infrastructure and citizens but noted the loss would exceed “millions of lari”, and added individuals and businesses could join disaster relief and humanitarian efforts.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said “all responsible” state agencies, from both central and local offices, were involved in the disaster relief.
Ruling party officials arrived in the disaster zone on the weekend to receive information from local authorities and view the disaster zone.
Aleksandre Sarishvili, the Mayor of Lanchkhuti in the region, said the situation had been “stabilised” following the initial damage and added power would be restored to 200 of the 250 affected consumers by Tuesday.
He noted 357 customers remained without natural gas in the municipality and said a provider company was working “actively” to restore delivery “in the coming days”.
Two of three bodies that have been recovered in the region following the disaster were minors.
Rescuers of the Emergency Management Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Friday found the third body in the disaster zone in Georgia's western Guria region, which was hit by landslides and flood this week.
Two bodies have been recovered and about 50 individuals, including children, evacuated after landslides and flood hit the Guria and Adjara regions in Georgia's west on Thursday and early on Friday, the Georgian Interior Ministry confirmed on Friday.
Rescuers working in a landslide-hit area in Georgia’s west on Friday recovered a body of a minor in the village of Jumati of Ozurgeti municipality.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said units from the Georgian Defence Forces would join the ongoing search and rescue operations in the western municipality of Oni to find remaining survivors after a landslide killed at least 11 in the Shovi resort on Thursday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said 105 families would be offered alternative accommodation after landslides and flood hit the Guria region in the country’s west last week, pledging “maximum” support for disaster-affected communities.
Giorgi Urushadze, the State Representative in Georgia's western Guria region, on Thursday said all internal footpath access roads were restored by professionals working in areas affected by landslides and floods last week.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday unveiled a financial support package for families of victims of the landslide in the Shovi resort in August and announced support for those displaced by floods and landslides in the Guria region earlier this month.
Families affected by hail and strong winds in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti on Sunday will receive compensation for the damage caused by the weather, the Government Administration said on Monday.
Avtandil Talakvadze, the Mayor of the Ozurgeti Municipality in Georgia's western Guria region, on Wednesday said 152 families had received compensation from the Government following the landslide and flood that hit the locality in September.