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Interior Minister denounces “lies” about delayed rescue operation in Shovi landslide

In his remarks at the Georgian Parliament, Gomelauri said firefighters and rescuers, as well as local police forces, border police representative, and emergency teams had arrived on the scene “within half an hour” after receiving the emergency notification. Photo: MIA of Georgia

Agenda.ge, 22 Sep 2023 - 18:06, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri on Friday said claims by domestic opposition of delays in the rescue operation in the aftermath of the landslide in western Georgia’s Shovi resort that killed 32 people last month was a “wrong judgement and a lie”.

In his remarks at the Georgian Parliament, Gomelauri said firefighters and rescuers, as well as local police forces, border police representative, and emergency teams had arrived on the scene “within half an hour” after receiving the emergency notification.

It was as a result of the consistent response that it became possible to get more than 200 people out of the epicentre of the disaster unharmed”, Gomelauri told MPs.

The Minister added the search and rescue operations, including the evacuation of persons and the liquidation of the consequences of the disaster, did not require international assistance as the rescue measures, due to their volume and the need for a quick response, could be carried out “more efficiently” by domestic forces.

Gomelauri also noted the operations had continued overnight following the disaster, with the staff equipped with special search hardware and thermal drones working “directly in the disaster zone”.

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