Heavy snowfall in Georgia interrupts communication with 16 villages

16 villages in the Mestia District of the Svaneti Region in Western Georgia are cut off from the outside world. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has sent help to car drivers stuck in snowdrifts.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that a prolonged snowfall caused the deterioration of the situation in Georgia. On January 5, because of danger of snow avalanches, the authorities closed the Georgian Military Road and the Transcaucasian Highway; and on January 6, in the Ninotsminda District, the police evacuated about 200 people, blocked in cars on the road leading to Armenia; and in the Lentekhi District in Western Georgia, an avalanche covered two minibuses.

According to regional authorities, power lines are damaged; and most of the residents of the area are left without electricity.

The "Georgia Online" adds that motor traffic in the direction of Ushguli was stopped.

The government is doing everything to promptly resume foodstuff supplies to the villagers cut off from the outside world, Nodar Javakhishvili, the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, said on January 6.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.