Govt Administration head: No immediate glacier threats identified in Georgia

Georgia’s government says there is no immediate danger in any of the country’s glacier valleys, following a nationwide assessment conducted by a Swiss company.

Speaking on Imedi TV this week, the Head of the Government Administration, Levan Zhorzholiani, said all glacier valleys had been examined and analysed, with experts finding no direct or urgent threats. However, the study identified several areas where the installation of early warning monitoring systems was recommended.

Zhorzholiani said an interagency working group had been set up within the Government Administration to develop a communication strategy for local residents. The group will be responsible for explaining how early warning systems work and how they are intended to reduce risks.

He said climate change was affecting countries across the world, including Georgia, and noted that the country had previously experienced natural disasters. Reducing risk, he said, was a key responsibility of the state, beginning with scientific research and the identification of potentially hazardous locations.

According to Zhorzholiani, the Swiss specialists presented their findings to the government, confirming that no immediate threat had been detected, while advising that monitoring systems be installed in certain glacier valleys. He described early warning monitoring as a well-established method, widely used in Switzerland, where such systems have previously helped limit damage when natural hazards threatened populated areas.

The government plans to install early warning monitoring systems at several recommended locations by the end of this year. All remaining sites identified in the study are expected to be equipped with such systems by the end of next year.

Zhorzholiani stressed that no area currently faces an immediate threat, but said the planned measures would significantly reduce potential risks in the future.