The tragedy in Shovi must not be repeated – Georgian Prime Minister

The Georgian authorities, together with a Swiss company, are conducting research across the country to prevent a tragedy similar to the deadly landslide in Shovi, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told reporters.

The Georgian authorities have taken the issue of early warning of natural disasters seriously since 2023, when 33 people died in a landslide at a mountain resort in Shovi on August 3. Dozens of vacationers, including children, were buried under tens of meters of mud.

"The memories of the terrible tragedy in Shovi, which shook the entire country, are still very vivid—people and children died. It is our duty to remember the victims and do everything possible to prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future... We have begun conducting research throughout the country in collaboration with a Swiss company, which will enable us to prevent such risks," Kobakhidze said.

According to the prime minister, a memorial will be organized in Shovi in memory of those who died in the tragedy. The finishing work will be completed in a month and a half, and construction of the temple will begin in the near future.

“This is important for everyone, especially for the families of the victims, who often visit the site of the tragedy. It is important that this temple be built in Shovi, including so that we can honor the memory of those who died,” Kobakhidze said.

The tragedy in Shovi

A report of landslides and mudslides in the Shovi resort area was received by the 112 Public Safety Control Center on August 3 at 3:07 p.m.

Within a few minutes, mudslides and earth completely covered part of the resort. Bridges were destroyed and the road at the entrance to Shovi was damaged.

Half an hour after the report was received, the first group of rescuers was already on site. While waiting for the rescuers, guests and residents of the resort made their own way out.

The rescuers who arrived at the scene immediately set to work and managed to find and transport 210 people to safety.

However, it was impossible to reach the site of the tragedy directly. Everything within a radius of several kilometers was covered with silt and mud. Reports of missing persons began to come in.

By the evening of August 3, 400 rescuers with dog handlers and drones were working at the site. The next day, they were joined by the military.

The search for the missing and the cleanup of the resort continued until October. A total of 32 bodies were found, but the body of the 33rd victim of the tragedy was never found. Among the dead was one foreigner, a Russian citizen who was vacationing at the resort at the time of the tragedy.

Reprinted from https://sputnik-georgia.ru/