Tbilisi collects clothes and food for flood victims

In Tbilisi, the works to eliminate the aftermath of the flood are underway. The Georgian Army is engaged in the activities. People deprived of their houses are accommodated at hotels. City residents collect things and food for the victims of the flood. Several countries, including Russia and Ukraine, offered their help in clearing ruins and restoring the Tbilisi zoo.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night of June 14, in Tbilisi, several streets and houses were flooded as a result of heavy rain. Buildings and infrastructure were destroyed. Today is declared the day of mourning for the victims in Georgia.

The flood affected the Tbilisi zoo, and many animals, including predators, ran into the streets of the city. The Georgian special forces began to eliminate escaped zoo animals. In total, the disaster killed at least 300 animals.

According to the official information, as at 2:50 p.m. Moscow time of June 15, the number of the victims of the disaster reached 13 persons. Other 9 persons are put on the list of disappeared persons, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reports.

David Narmaniya, the Mayor of Tbilisi, has reported that the approximate damage amounts to 40 million laris (about 18 million US dollars).

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister of Georgia, has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He has added that his NGO "Citizen" will help the people affected by the flood.

Tbilisi faced no abnormal rainfall, and the persons who issue permits for urban development of the city are guilty of the accident. This opinion has been expressed by BERG ... man Tbilisi, a blogger of the "Caucasian Knot".

It should be noted that earlier, Merab Gaprindashvili, the chief of the Department of Geology of the National Environment Agency of Georgia, has mentioned a landslide which blocked the gorge of the Vere River as a possible cause of the significant consequences of the flooding.

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