Infrastructure, Interior ministries: no confirmation of workers fatalities in tunnel works in north

The state bodies released the response after Mtis Ambebi news outlet said accumulation of “flammable gas” in the tunnel - part of a road connecting the two villages - had caused “death and injury of several workers”. Photo: Mtis Ambebi

Agenda.ge, 10 Feb 2023 - 16:11, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Georgian ministries of Infrastructure and Internal Affairs on Friday said they could not confirm media reports on the death of workers during the construction works on the Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel in Georgia’s north.

The state bodies released the response after Mtis Ambebi news outlet said accumulation of “flammable gas” in the tunnel - part of a road connecting the two villages - had caused “death and injury of several workers”.

Mtis Ambebi said the incident had been confirmed by "independent sources", including those employed in the construction of the tunnel.

[They] confirmed that the ventilation system [for the works] had not functioned for two days, which caused a large amount of poisonous gas to accumulate in the tunnel", the report said.

The Ministry of Infrastructure said it would “immediately contact relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances", while the Ministry of Internal Affairs said it would respond to developments "within the scope of its competence".