Floods hit Georgia

Heavy rains have caused floods to hit the Lagodelkhi and Qvareli regions of Georgia, devastating agricultural lands and washing away villages.

According to tentative information, around 80 per cent of these districts' villages suffered serious losses after the water level of the Kabala River rose, causing severe flood damage.

Many roads and bridges have been destroyed, including one which connects the Lagodelkhi District with Gurjaan. Current estimates place the damage at over $2 million.

Zurab Noghaideli, the prime minister of Georgia, has visited the flood-hit regions to meet local residents. He said that the government would indemnify the victims for their losses.

The Emergency Department of the Georgian Interior Ministry told the Trend news agency that rescue work is continuing in the regions of Lagodelkhi and Qvareli, which are mostly populated with Azerbaijanis.

Meanwhile the water levels in the regions' rivers have begun to decline.