Tbilisi Mayor on collapsed building: "it was hazardous, beyond repair, and residents knew it"

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated on Tuesday that the residential building which partially collapsed near Station Square, claiming one life and injuring another, had been previously declared a Category 5 hazardous structure and was not eligible for rehabilitation.

"Tragically, an accident occurred. The building was dangerous, classified as Category 5, and could not be rehabilitated. Residents were aware of this," Kaladze told reporters at the scene.

He added that local authorities had offered residents participation in a replacement program, which would have included full demolition and new construction. However, the process required unanimous consent, which was not achieved.

"Some families agreed and have been moved to temporary rental housing, but others refused to participate, which prevented us from moving forward with the full demolition," Kaladze explained.

One person has died and another remains hospitalized. Emergency crews are continuing search and rescue operations to ensure no one else is trapped in the debris.