Three years since Shovi disaster that claimed 33 lives in Georgia

Three years have passed since a devastating landslide and debris flow struck the mountain resort of Shovi in north-western Georgia, killing 33 people in one of the country's deadliest natural disasters in recent history.

On 3 August 2023, a massive torrent of mud, rocks and floodwater swept through the resort after heavy rainfall, destroying cottages and washing away the only road bridge while dozens of people were in the area.

People trapped by the disaster alerted emergency services, but the scale of the destruction severely hampered rescue efforts. A rescue helicopter reached Shovi about three hours after the disaster began.

A total of 210 people were evacuated from the disaster zone by helicopter.

The victims were:

• Luka Dudashvili

• Andria Dudashvili

• Anastasia Dudashvili

• Nato Chelidze

• Mariam Maisuradze

• Kote Maisuradze

• Shorena Bichashvili

• Megi Gutashvili

• Gigi Gutashvili

• Zaza Meskhi

• Alina Polikovska

• Their three minor children, one of whose body has still not been found

• Sophie Karalashvili

• Giorgi Karalashvili

• Marina Khorbaladze

• Manana Jachvadze

• Giorgi Khorbaladze

• Nino Kenchadze

• Salome Khetaguri

• Gvantsa Bubashvili

• Temur Charkviani

• Dito Pirtskhalava

• Nika Chaladze

• Samira Isaieva

• Davit Beriashvili

• Giorgi Goginashvili

• Ksenia Tritseva

• Genadi Sultanishvili

• Sopho Bakuradze

• Ketevan Lobzhanidze

• Levan Razmadze