Georgia: Flash Floods - Jun 2023

On 15 and 16 June, a significant disaster struck Gurjaani and Lentekhi municipalities in Georgia, as heavy rainfall, flooding, and hailstorms occurred. This calamity had widespread effects, impacting both urban and rural areas in Gurjaani and Lentekhi Municiplaities – Kakheti and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti regions, respectively. The heavy rainfall led to the flooding of the central streets in Gurjaani municipality, including the surrounding areas of the central agricultural market, resulting in severe difficulties in transportation and mobility. Additionally, sudden mudflows and landslides caused the destruction of roads, blockages from fallen trees, and damage to vital infrastructure like bridges and power transmission towers. Specifically, the flooding affected several areas in Gurjaani municipality, including Gurjaani, Chumlaki, Tchandari, Vejini, Dzirkoki, Kolagi, Bakurtsikhe, and Kodalo. In Lentekhi, which is one of the highest mountainous populated areas in Georgia, the storms affected Chikhareshi, Jakhunderi, Nakisheri, Skhedi, Upper Shkedi, Akhalsheni, Panaga, and Lekosadeni villages. State infrastructure such as bridges, in-land roads, and power transmission towers were also damaged. [...] Although Georgia is prone to flooding and hailstorms, it is worth noting that these kinds of floods are not common in either of these municipalities, as none of them are located in high-risk flash flood zones. It is the first time in recent decades that Gurjaani municipality faced such a disaster. Consequently, the population was not prepared for potential effects of this sudden disaster in the region. The disaster is found to have impacted a total of 58,723 people, of whom 5,775 people are in vulnerable situations and in need of humanitarian assistance. (IFRC, 30 Jun 2023)

By 16 July 2023, 15 municipalities in six regions of Georgia were heavily affected by a series of unexpected storms, heavy rainfall and flash floods. The storms and floods affected both rural and urban settlements in administrative regions spanning out from the seaside, lower-located, more urbanized areas to the high mountainous, scarcely populated rural settlements. Series of storms and flashfloods [...] affected more than 100,000 individuals in total and leaving about 350,000 people in need of immediate need of basic livelihood support. The disaster impacted multiple areas in all six regions, affecting both urban and rural settlements: Batumi city/municipality was affected in Adjara Autonomous Republic (A/R); Chokhatauri and Lanchkhuti municipalities in Guria Region; Lentekhi municipality in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region; Gurjaani Municipality in Kakheti Region; Kutaisi, Samtredia and Khoni Municipalities in Imereti Region; Abasha, Zugdidi, Martvili, Senaki, Chkhorotsku and Khobi municipalities in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. Out of the 15 municipalities, the storms recurringly affected Lentekhi and Gurjaani municipalities. (IFRC, 2 Aug 2023)

Following the deadly landslide that occurred in the Shovi area (Oni Municipality, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region, northern Georgia) on 3 August, the number of fatalities has been increasing. According to media reports, at least 18 people died and 19 are still missing. Search and rescue activities conducted by a team of 400 personnel are still ongoing. (ECHO, 7 Aug 2023)