Severe weather sears Georgia

Weather conditions are significantly worsening throughout Georgia. It is very cold outside and raining heavily, this causing traffic jams and creating unpleasant situations on the roads.

Heavy snow in the Kazbegi region has left more than 1,900 homes without electricity. It is still snowing there, and the snow cover is more than 30 centimetres deep. The Jvari Pass is closed and cars are not being allowed in that area as frozen roads and fog make movement dangerous. Police are controlling the vicinity of the pass.

Internal Affairs Security Service officer Zurab Darbaiseli said: “Heavy snow has caused serious problems on the roads, the Pass is closed temporarily and drivers are not allowed to travel towards Tbilisi as the road is frozen. Three mini buses containing students and tourists were stranded here but our service managed to place all the passengers in one mini bus and transport them to safety.”

The snow began to fall in Kazbegi on the afternoon of September 27. It has already damaged the electricity transmission lines and Stepantsminda, Gergeti and some other villages have been left totally dark. There have also been some problems supplying gas to the region, which create additional difficulties for the locals as it is very cold there and the people are not prepared for such bad weather. Furthermore, some families lost their cattle the day before yesterday and have asked for help in finding them as for most households in the villages cattle are their main means of livelihood.

A local inhabitant has stated, “We have no gas and electricity, are houses are seriously damaged and cattle lost, we do not know what to do. We are also practically without a potato crop, as we cannot dig them out of the ground, please help us.” The President’s representative in the Kazbegi region, Givi Amirkhanashvili, said, “This snow was really unexpected; it damaged the houses and the locals have suffered losses. The mobilisation of different services is very much needed now for overcoming this unpleasant and difficult situation in the region.”

In the Marneuli and Tsalka regions 3,000-4,000 homes have been left without electricity and the locals have again asked the local and national authorities for help. If this problem is not resolved urgently people will be in a very bad situation as most use electricity for heating.

Heavy rains have also caused floods in the Kakheti region. The River Kabali in the village of Naindrovali has flooded houses. Some buildings are significantly damaged and agricultural land has been ruined. In Kvareli rivers have also burst their banks and flooded even the pastures, creating danger for cattle.

Energo-Pro Georgia has said that it is doing its best to resolve this problem and has already sent workers to repair the damaged electric lines. “In spite of the fact that the difficult climatic conditions prevent us working properly this problem will be resolved very soon. Our specialists are working in an emergency mode,” stated a company representative. As for the Jvari Pass, the road is being cleared with special equipment.

Georgian forecasters suggest that the weather will improve from September 30. Weather forecaster Dodo Gvazava says that, “the bad weather has been caused by cold air masses entering from north-west of the Black Sea and suddenly decreasing the temperature. Warmer weather is expected next month.”