Natural Disaster in Kakheti – Tusheti Region in Isolation

Lela Khechoshvili, Kakheti

On August 20, as a result of heavy rain in Kakheti region, the road to Tusheti was damaged and the region got isolated from the environment. The landslide destroyed the road on the 27th and 52nd kilometers of the road that made transportation impossible. 

Akhmeta district deputy governor Tamaz Kavtarashvili told humanrights.ge that the road is actively cleaned and special technique of the company Tusheti AutoGas is mobilized on the place.

According to the deputy governor, public holiday Tushetoba, scheduled for August 22, will be cancelled because of the damaged road. The celebration of the event was postponed for August 29.

“Transportation and road department actively works on cleaning the roads. All necessary equipment and techniques were sent to the spot from early morning. We do not know when exactly the works will finish but even if we finish it now, it will be impossible to organize the event in Tusheti; thus we postponed it,” Tamaz Kavtarashvili said.

August 20 heavy hail and storm damaged Kvareli, Lagodekhi and Akhmeta Municipalities. Vineyards, watermelon gardens and plots were destroyed. Strong wind removed roofs of the houses, heavy rain flooded basements and ground floors of the houses. 

The storm tore off trees which blocked Lagodekhi-Kvareli central motorway and stopped traffic.  Employees of emergency situation service worked in Lagodekhi district villages all night long and bumped water out of the house basements. The villages still do not get electricity supply.