Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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Otar Shamugia expresses gratitude to the National Environmental Agency specialists involved in preparing the first natural disaster assessment in Shovi Resort.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, provided insights on the preliminary assessment of the Shovi disaster after a government session. This initial evaluation, meticulously conducted by the National Environment Agency's experts, utilized diverse information sources, analysis, and hands-on site inspection.

"Georgia mourns today, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and our nation for the lives lost in this profound tragedy that was beyond our capacity to prevent. At a recent briefing, we provided the public with the initial assessment of specialists. We want to thank the specialists of the National Environmental Agency for their 24-hour efforts. They were able to make a preliminary conclusion in a reasonably short time. Unfortunately, today we heard statements from various politicians as if these people had completed the order. We request everyone to refrain from such statements as long as these people are professionals. They could assess in a very short time; they were doing their job. We, jointly with the specialists and the agency, will continue to work and investigate the affected valley. It is important to discuss further goals to be implemented and determine what should happen in the future in this valley, along with the causes of the disaster.

 Appropriate recommendations should be prepared on what should be done in the future, specifically in this valley. We want to provide the public with the preliminary assessment's essential details. 

The calamity's onset was marked by a rock mass collapsing west of the Buba glacier. This moving mass collided with the glacier, instigating a sequence of landslides that eventually culminated in the flood. The entire series of events, from the initial collapse to the flood reaching the disaster zone, transpired in approximately 8-10 minutes."

We need to be aware of water level fluctuations. Our data from the Chanchakhi River's hydrological station indicates no significant deviation in water levels before or during the event. Therefore, experts suggest that there was not any prolonged water accumulation, which would have certainly influenced river flow and levels."

Also, according to the initial conclusion, this disaster's rapid and multifaceted nature renders it almost impossible to prevent, even in the most advanced nations. First and foremost, the specialists should evaluate this conclusion. We urge politicians and the public to respect and acknowledge the hard work and findings of our specialists doing significant work for our country and refrain from political conjecture,’’ said Mr. Otar Shamugia.