Severe flooding in Georgia kills 12
By Aynur Karimova
A devastating flood that swept through central parts of Georgian capital Tbilisi claimed the lives of at least 12 people, while 24 people remain missing, Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri said.
The natural disaster lasting throughout the night on June 14 left dozens of families without shelter, damaged major roadways, and destroyed a significant part of the city’s zoo.
The Vere River, which runs through Tbilisi’s Vake and Saburtalo districts, was dammed up by a large landslide caused by heavy rainfall, on Tskneti-Betania road outside Tbilisi. The blockage then burst, sending torrent of water down towards the capital city.
The Ministry of Health announced that about 36 people were hospitalized and then discharged.
The river also flooded the Tbilisi zoo, sending animals, including tigers, lions, bears and wolves fleeing into the city. Some of them were either captured or killed, but the search for the remaining escaped animals continued as of Sunday morning.
The relevant bodies have called on the Tbilisi residents to stay home while the search for the zoo animals remained ongoing.
Georgia has declared June 15 a national day of mourning over the victims of the floods.
Speaking at a governmental meeting dedicated to relief efforts, Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri said that according to preliminary estimates, flood damage will amount to at least 40 million lari (approximately $18 million).
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili vowed that “not a single
family” affected by the flood “will be left without attention.”
“We should record in detail damage inflicted to those families and
we should assist them maximally,” he told the cabinet members.
People are turning out in large numbers to volunteer in relief
efforts and to clear affected streets from dirt and mud left after
the flooding.
The Prime Minister thanked the people for showing “unprecedented solidarity.” “The government will ask for more people’s involvement if it is needed."
Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania noted that temporary housing has
thus far been provided to 45 families, while 20 others will also be
provided with accommodation before the end of the day. "Some hotels
offered rooms to flood victims free of charge."
President Giorgi Margvelashvili will allocate funds from the
president’s discretionary fund to assist families suffering as a
result of the flood.
He also mobilized the army force to “respond to the emergency situation.”
EU, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Turkey, Ukraine governments have expressed their readiness to provide assistance.
The UN refugee agency's office in Tbilisi has sent staff to organize an emergency response. Its "trucks were loaded with non-food items and are on standby to deliver assistance to the affected population."
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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