UPDATED: Dariali border checkpoint employees in the north evacuated due to rising river level
The Emergency Management Service of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs stated rising levels of the Devdoraki river in the country’s north had led to evacuation of employees from the Dariali border checkpoint with Russia. Photo: MIA
Tweet 
Share
UPDATED: 15:02
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has lifted the traffic restrictions imposed earlier today due to rising levels of the Devdoraki river in the country’s north, following a recommendation from the National Environment Agency.
The Ministry added the border checkpoint Dariali was also operating “normally”, as the Agency said the current level of danger in the valley was “minimal”.
EARLIER:12:35
The Emergency Management Service of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs on Thursday stated rising levels of the Devdoraki river in the country’s north had led to evacuation of employees from the Dariali border checkpoint with Russia.
The Agency said a signal message had been received from a measuring detector installed in the locality at 8:36am on the rising levels of water, with the notification followed by the evacuation with efforts involving Patrol Police, Customs Service, Border Police and employees of private companies working at the checkpoint.
A Border Police helicopter with a crew from the National Agency for Environmental Protection and geologists has also been dispatched to assess the situation on the ground.
As a precautionary measure, a highway near the village of Gveleti has been closed and traffic in both directions for all types of vehicles has been limited.