Georgia: Tbilisi earthquake kills six people

(Tbilisi, April 26, Civil.ge) The strongest earthquake in last 40 years hit Georgian capital Tbilisi late on April 25 killing 6 people, two of them with the heart attack. Apartment building mainly in the old part of the city are ruined or heavily damaged.

According to the Georgian Geophysical Institute earthquake was magnitude six in intensity. The epicenter was in Nadzaladevi district of the capital city, in the vicinity of Tbilisi artificial water reservoir.

The earthquakes of lower intensity were repeating in Tbilisi all night through and in the morning on April 26.

President Shevardnadze announced emergency situation in Tbilisi on April 26. At the government's special meeting on April 26 President Shevardnadze stated that the government should reconstruct damaged buildings and provide families with the apartment by all means, "even if we will need to take credit," the President added.

"Damages are more than we could imagine. We are doing our best to cope with the problem," Shevardnadze stated.

Tbilisi Mayor stated on April 26, that at least USD 25 million will be needed for elimination of the damage, caused by the earthquake, although the exact amount is not known so far.

Approximately 2,000 apartments mainly in the old part of the Georgian capital, Mtatsminda, Chughureti, Isani and Krtsanisi districts are damaged, 400 of them are heavily damaged.

Special governmental commission is formed to evaluate damages. State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze heads the commission. Tbilisi Mayor Vano Zodelava stated on April 26, while inspecting the damaged apartments that the Mayors Office will assist people left without apartments.

"At the first stage Mayor's Office will rent houses for the families whose apartments are ruined or inhabitable," Zodelava said. Tbilisi Mayor urged businessmen for the financial aid for the reconstruction.

Russian President Vladimer Putin offered assistance to the Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze during the phone conversation on April 25.

On April 27, the special governmental commission will submit the exact information on the damage of buildings, number of injured to the President. Based on the information received, the President might then decide to issue an International Appeal.

According to the Georgian Geophysical Society Georgia is one of the most seismically active regions in Alpine-Himalayan collision belt and the minor earthquakes are common in Georgia.

Couple of weeks ago several earthquakes of lower intensity hit Tbilisi, causing no damages or injuries.