Georgian PM: reconstruction of landslide-hit western Shovi resort “not recommended”
The landslide killed 32 people in the resort, with studies presented this year citing intense melting of glaciers, collapse of rock formations in their headwaters, heavy rains, erosive processes and a glacier runoff as the causes. Photo: Governmetn Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said a reconstruction of western Georgia’s Shovi resort, which was hit by a deadly landslide in August, was “not recommended”, and added state authorities would hold consultations to establish compensations for those who had held land or infrastructure in ownership in the locality.
The conclusion is that it is not recommended to begin the reconstruction process […] The next steps will involve detailed consultations. I will meet with the relevant ministers to determine the appropriate legal principles and compensation for those affected”, he said.
The landslide killed 32 people in the resort, with studies presented this year citing intense melting of glaciers, collapse of rock formations in their headwaters, heavy rains, erosive processes and a glacier runoff as the causes.
Georgian Environment Minister Otar Shamugia on Friday said the two major landslides in the west of the country, which hit the Shovi resort last year and the village of Nergeeti earlier this month had been caused by climate change, in comments while presenting the National Environment Agency’s concluding report on the subject.
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.
Nino Tandilashvili, the Deputy Environment Minister, on Wednesday said it was “practically impossible” to forecast the development of “such a complex” natural disaster - a landslide that hit the resort of Shovi in the western Georgian region of Racha on August 3.
The landslide in the western Georgian municipality of Oni that killed at least 18 people in the Shovi resort on August 3 was caused by intense melting of glaciers, collapse of rock formations in their headwaters, heavy rains, erosive processes and a glacier runoff, a preliminary report by the National Environmental Agency said on Monday.