Natural Disasters

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Georgia

US to continue funding Georgian earthquake monitoring centre following fears of closure

by Robin Fabbro

•1 min read

The US has said it will continue to fund the Georgian Institute of Earth Sciences and National Seismic Monitoring Centre at Ilia State University, days after the institute’s head warned they could cease to function within three months after losing US funding. On Monday, the institute said they had lost US funding as part of a wide-ranging freeze on US financial aid to the Georgian Government. The Seismic Monitoring Centre is part of Ilia State University, a state institution. Since the Georg

A landslide in Nergeeti, Imereti. Photo via Facebook.

Environment

Landslides and avalanches kill 11 in western Georgia

by Tata Shoshiashvili

•2 min read

Eleven people have died as a result of landslides and avalanches in Georgia’s western Imereti and Adjara regions. The natural disasters hit on Tuesday and Wednesday, following heavy rain. On Tuesday, two people died in Adjara’s Khulo and Keda municipalities, as the result of an avalanche and a landslide. Local media reported that more than 90 households were evacuated from the impacted areas in Khulo, Keda, and Shuakhevi municipalities. Nine more people were killed in Nergeeti, Imereti, afte

Rescue workers and soldiers continue search and resuce operations in Shovi. Photo: Interior Ministry of Georgia.

Environment

Georgia mourns victims of Shovi mudslide as questions raised if deaths were avoidable

by Shota Kincha

•2 min read

As search and rescue operations continue in the mudslide-stricken resort of Shovi in Georgia’s north, some have criticised the government’s handling of the disaster, accusing it of failure to forecast the mudslide and to alert civilians. As of Monday, at least 18 people, including several minors, were confirmed to have died when the mudslide caused the banks of the River Buba to burst on 3 August. Four of those killed have yet to be identified. Sixteen others remain missing. On Saturday, the

Rescue operations in Shovi. Image: Interior Ministry of Georgia

Environment

Death toll continues to rise in mudslide in Georgia’s Racha

by Shota Kincha

•2 min read

A mudslide in the north Georgian region of Racha has left at least 11 people dead and dozens more missing, as rescue efforts continue. The mudslide on Thursday caused the banks of the River Buba to burst, with a torrent of water sweeping away houses and cottages in the Shovi resort in Oni Municipality. Two bridges near Shovi were also washed away, complicating access to the disaster zone. The death toll rose to 11 on Friday, with the authorities stating that 25 others remained unaccounted fo

Abkhazia

Floods cause power cuts and transport chaos in Abkhazia

by OC Media

•2 min read

Severe flooding has caused widespread devastation in western Abkhazia, after heavy rains over the weekend. Roads were destroyed and houses flooded in Gagra and in villages near Pitsunda (Bichvinta), with the region also suffering damage to energy and water infrastructure after heavy rains on Friday night and Saturday morning. There was no electricity in Gagra region for almost all of Saturday. The flooding also damaged 200 metres of railway tracks in Gagra region, bringing rail transport

A collapsed 14-storey building in Adana, Turkey. Image via Anadolu Agency.

2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake

The South Caucasus sends aid following deadly quake

by Ani Avetisyan

•3 min read

The South Caucasus has offered messages of support and offers of assistance after a deadly earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on Monday. But despite parts of both countries being devastated by the quake, only Armenia offered aid to Syria. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit at around 04:17 on 6 February and was followed by aftershocks that devastated south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria. Official death tolls from Turkey and Syria number over 5,000 so far, with tens of thousands more wounded or st

Kabarda–Balkaria

Mass evacuations near Elbrus after Kabardino-Balkaria landslide

by OC Media

•2 min read

Over 1,200 people have been evacuated by helicopter from Kabardino-Balkaria’s Elbrus District, following a landslide near the village of Elbrus on 1 September. The landslide destroyed the only road to the area, cutting off almost 8,000 people from five villages in the Baksan Valley, and leaving many without gas, food, and drinking water. The landslide pushed three cars carrying five people into the river. Two were saved, while one body has been found. Around 500 people are still search