The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia on Wednesday sent its condolences after two people died in the western Adjara region and bodies of four individuals were recovered in the western municipality of Baghdati after a landslide and an avalanche hit the localities on Tuesday.
In their social media post, the Delegation offered their “deep condolences” to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the development, and expressed hope rescue operations would find the five missing individuals.
The EU Delegation to Georgia expresses deep condolences to the family and friends of those who have tragically lost their lives due to the landslides in Ajara and Imereti regions.
— EU Delegation Georgia ???????? (@EUinGeorgia) February 7, 2024
We hope that the rescue operation finds those who are still missing. pic.twitter.com/j0DN3cEbEf
The country’s Interior Ministry on Wednesday said abundant overnight rainfall in the Imereti region had caused the landslide, which covered four residential houses under a land mass in the village of Nergeeti, adding one survivor had been rescued, while search and rescue operations were still ongoing.
In his comments,Temur Mgebrishvili, the Head of the Emergency Management Service of the Ministry, said “intensive search and rescue” efforts were ongoing for five missing people, with 200 firefighters, rescuers and a group of canine professionals working in the affected area, noting additional equipment had been mobilised and about 70 percent of the area had been cleared.