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
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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”.
Rescuers have recovered the body of the 32nd victim of the Shovi resort landslide in Georgia’s west, with one person still missing, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Sunday.
Givi Mikanadze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said conclusions made “remotely” by the opposition United National Movement party about the landslide that hit the Shovi resort in Georgia’s west and killed at least 29 people showed the party’s “real goals and intentions”.
Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri on Sunday arrived in the disaster-affected zone in the western municipality of Oni, where a landslide killed at least 24 on August 3 and expressed his “deepest sorrow” to the families of the deceased, noting relevant units “have done their best in the shortest possible time” in disaster relief efforts.
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Friday said 103 units of heavy hardware were being used in 10 locations for the search and clearing operations in the disaster-affected zone in the western municipality of Oni, where a landslide killed at least 24 last week.
Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri on Friday told the Parliament the Government's response to the deadly landslide in the Shovi resort in the country’s west that killed 32 people in August had been “effective and timely”, while also detailing “genuine improvements” in the Emergency Management Service.