Emergency Management Service says rescuers continuing evacuation of citizens from villages in west after heavy snowfall

The Emergency Management Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on Wednesday said rescuers were evacuating citizens from villages in the country’s western regions that have been hit by heavy snowfall over the recent days.

The Service also noted the crew had been involved in rescue operations throughout the night between Saturday and Wednesday, providing the locals with necessary medicines and food, with Defence Forces units also involved in the relief efforts.

Temur Mgebrishvili, the Head of the Service, said it was “fully mobilised” and working “in an emergency mode” in the western Guria, Imereti and Adjara regions.

An emergency meeting was held with the participation of the Prime Minister. Tasks have been planned, an action plan has been drawn up. [Relief works in] the locations which have been cut off from the outside world are a priority”, Mgebrishvili said.

The body also added around 600 rescuers of the Service had continued to work in coordination with “all relevant units” of the Ministry and representatives of other agencies.