In the disaster zone of Guria municipality, firemen and rescuers of Emergency Situations Management Service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs continue intensive rescue operation.

At this stage, approximately 50 people, including children and under-aged persons, have been rescued by fire-rescuers and transferred to a safe area. During search activities, two bodies have been found, the search for one missing juvenile continues.

Temur Mgebrishvili, head of Emergency Situations Management Service commented to the media regarding the current developments from the disaster area.

“As a result of heavy rainfall in Guria, river levels increased, causing overflow. Heavy rainfall triggered landslides, blocking the roads leading to several dozens of villages, and unfortunately, we have a disaster victim. In one of the villages, as a result of the destruction, elderly lady was trapped in debris of her house, who’s body has already been found by fire-rescuers. Herewith, the body of a juvenile was detected in one of the villages and was taken to forensic facility.

At the moment, a search-and-rescue operation for one minor is underway. 200 employees of Emergency Situations Management Service, as well as police units, municipal services and infrastructure subcontractor heavy equipment have been mobilized in the disaster zone, with the help of which road clean-up works, leading to the village are being carried out.

More than 400 text messages have been received so far, some of which are identical. Each call and address is being verified. Mostly, these are messages related to the flooding of first floors of residential houses, where pumping works are already underway by firefighters.

Approximately 50 residents have been evacuated from dangerous areas to safe places.

At this stage, there are places which is not completely accessible, there are requests of evacuation, therefore, we have mobilized heavy off-road equipment, allowing us to access villages that are out of reach due to the landslide.

Currently, it is not necessary to involve the aviation, the helicopter was mobilized, although the difficult meteorological conditions hindered us in this regard, however there was no need to involve the helicopter”, - said Temur Mghebrishvili.