Death toll hits 20 in Shovi landslide

Death toll has hit 20 following the August 3 deadly landslide in Georgia’s western Shovi resort, with at least 13 still missing, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili confirmed on Wednesday. 

The Government claims the disaster was “unpreventable” amid the public allegations about the absence of early warning systems and the engagement of helicopters in rescue efforts after three hours from receiving the notification. 

Domestic officials, who said earlier this week the systems would cover the whole of the country “soon”, are accusing the opposition of spreading “fake information”, adding the rescue operation was launched after mandatory procedures that took three hours, with helicopters unable to search survivors at night due to absence of necessary equipment. 

They also claim the early launch of the operation would “change nothing”, as well as the work of helicopters at night. Some survivors, with several of them rescued by locals, told the media they would need two to 10 minutes to escape the landslide if warned.