2020-07-29
On the instruction of Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, Sozar Subari, advisor to the prime minister for regional development issues, Irakli Karseladze and Ilia Begiashvili, deputy ministers of regional development and infrastructure, United Water Supply Company Director Giga Mandaria, Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Ioseb Chelidze, Temur Mghebrishvili, head of the Emergency Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Majoritarian Parliament Deputy Gocha Enukidze are in the disaster zone in Racha.
In accordance with the instructions of the head of the government, they are familiarizing themselves with the situation on the ground that that was created as a result of the disaster, as well as the damage caused by it, so that the appropriate decisions can be made to help the population as soon as possible.
Heavy equipment is involved in the disaster cleanup operations.
At the moment, a bypass road has already been created at the 118th kilometer of Mamisoni Pass. Efforts to deploy additional equipment are underway, though the work is hampered by difficult terrain.
According to initial information, 10 bridges have been damaged as a result of the disaster. The main road has collapsed in eight places, as have several sections of the road leading from Oni to Shovi and inner rural roads.
Twelve units of equipment have been mobilized in the disaster zone - excavators, bulldozers. In case of necessity, five additional units of heavy equipment that are available in the region will become involved in the disaster cleanup operations.
The population of Oni Municipality is supplied with water in an emergency mode of operation. The 400 households that were left without water due to the damaged water distribution network are receiving cisterns of drinking water until the damaged water supply infrastructure has been restored.
According to the available data, steel pipes coming out of the old and new water supply facilities in the village of Zhizhoreti have been damaged as a result of the flooding of the Rioni River. Preparatory work is underway to restore the damaged infrastructure.
Work is also underway to evacuate the population that has been trapped at several locations. Firefighter rescuers from the Racha-Lechkhumi Division of the Emergency Management Agency helped citizens in the disaster zone throughout the night.
Rescuers of the Emergency Situations Rapid Response Base in Tbilisi are also involved in the rescue operation. Additionally, 30 citizens, including three minors, were evacuated from the village of Glola in the disaster zone by a helicopter of the Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Some of them are local residents, while others were visiting the village affected by the disaster as tourists. Furthermore, citizens remaining in the disaster zone were provided with food and medicines on the spot, as needed.
Press Service of the Government Administration