The Tbilisi Flood, Two Years On

Exactly two years have passed since the devastating June 13, 2015 flood in Tbilisi, which took the lives of 21 people and left more than 200 families homeless. Two people are still missing. The deadly flood also damaged homes, businesses and other infrastructure on more than 20 streets in central Tbilisi and killed nearly half the animals in the Tbilisi Zoo. According to the World Bank, the flood caused more than 100 million GEL worth of damage to Tbilisi infrastructure.

In spite of the deadly flood, the Tbilisi Zoo is now fully restored and has added many new animals. Since the disaster, many countries have gifted animals to the zoo.

The president of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, recently issued a statement regarding the disaster. “June 13 will always remind us of irreparable human loss and the destruction of the city center. Today, we pay tribute to the victims of the disaster,” he wrote. The president also said that based on this past disaster, any future projects and initiatives should be based on human security standards.

The Tbilisi Mayor’s Office also released a statement about the flood, describing their work since the disaster. City Hall said more than 10,000 volunteers at the time got involved in the disaster elimination works, while donations were made by physical and legal entities, as well as budgetary organizations and banks. With total assistance and donations, more than 26 million GEL was raised,” the statement said, adding that 10,250,000 GEL was given by the Cartu Charity Foundation, a fund established and financed by Georgian businessman and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream party.

The Mayor’s Office reported that about 35 people who lived in the disaster area received flats, and that some families were paid compensation instead. About 153 people whose vehicles were damaged also received compensation from the state. The statement also said that City Hall has fully rehabilitated damaged infrastructure in the city, which cost 40 million GEL.

“Construction of an educational center, sports complex, forest-park, bicycle and pedestrian paths is planned for Vere Gorge and the surrounding areas. Mziuri Park is currently under construction and a new park will be planned [in the gorge],” the Mayor’s Office said.

The flood hit the capital of Georgia on the evening of June 13, 2015 and continued through the night. A landslide in the nearby village of Akhaldaba accelerated the flood in the Vere Ravine. Tunnels failed to divert the water, and the river damaged the Vake-Saburtalo connecting road, as well as Heroes’ Square, the Tbilisi-Tskneti highway and the city center.

By Thea Morrison