2018-07-06
H.E. Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia has arrived at Chuberi village. Head of the Government of Georgia observed the natural disaster response measures being taken and noted the current situation at the site of the calamity.
Prime Minister also went to the ad-hoc High Command of Disaster Mitigation Measures, where he has been briefed about the actions taken and needs of the local communities. Head of the Government of Georgia instructed the relevant agencies to take a great care for the security of local livelihood and to provide drinking water, food, medication and items of immediate need to the local population.
"High Command of Disaster Mitigation Measures has been operational round the clock. Abundance of flood has caused the river to overflow. Six bridges have been washed away. Machinery has been mobilized and we are now waiting for the level of water to decline so that we launch the road restoration works. What is most important, full mobilization has been called and manifested in terms of food products, drinking water and medication that has been provided. In addition, we have already rescued several people, who got isolated from the rest of the world as a result of this devastating flooding. Such risks have been diminished, however our specialists continue to monitor the situation naturally round the clock. This calamity has once again demonstrated that a nationwide emergency communication system should exist all over Georgia. Unfortunately, we have it at two locations currently and will be launching a set of rather wide-scale measures from the next year to have it installed everywhere. It will enable us at the Government to more effectively work towards prevention. According to the preliminary assessment of course, this calamity has been caused by abundant precipitation. However, it should also be noted that it has been facilitated by the unregulated timber cuts and whoever was engaged in such practices. We will by all means tend to them as well" stated the Prime Minister of Georgia.
According to the information of the Head of the Government of Georgia, as the volume of water has not yet declined, houses of local residents that are still at risk have already been vacated.
"We help the local population to take their belongings from their houses, however we will not be able to start the capital repair of the road until the level of water diminishes. We will now focus our efforts on the prevention of any further damage of the road by the ravaging river. We have evacuated those, who were at risk. Some tourists will also be rescued in the nearest hours. All other people are safe. Helicopter is operating in shifts. We are controlling the situation round the clock to take additional drastic measures if the water rises. At present no such risks exist" added the Prime Minister.
According to the explanations given by the Head of the Government of Georgia, the natural disaster has been caused by abundance of precipitation as claimed by the subject matter professionals and nobody is indemnified against it. Nevertheless, Government will await the final Expertise Opinion on the matter.
"Abundant precipitation needs to be mitigated with immediate response measures and early notification systems, which are available in Georgia in the limited quantity though (only two systems deployed at present). When the final Expertise Opinion is produced on the causes, we will decide on further steps of action" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.
H.E. Maya Tskitishvili, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia along with H.E. Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia, were escorting the Prime Minister to the site of the natural disaster.
All the relevant government agencies and public institutions have been deployed in the mitigation measures from the very first moment of flooding at the Nenskra River in Chuberi village of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia. Mr. Giorgi Mghebrishvili, Head of Emergency Response Management Service has been stationed at the disaster site, along with H.E. Sozar Subari, Minister of Internally Displaced People, Refugees and Resettlement of Georgia.
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Police Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia along with the Emergency Response Management Service staff keep the situation under control and have been providing support to the local communities, who found it hard to commute due to the flooded roads. Groups of firefighters, emergency rescue staff and road department specialists have been mobilized.
Governor of the region and officials of the local authority are currently stationed in Chuberi village.
Prime Minister's Press Office