23:00, 25 March 2013

Hurricane leaves about 60,000 in Georgia without power

On March 24, a hurricane attacked Georgia, and damaged houses and disrupted power supplies. About 60,000 residents are still without power, said the Minister of Energy.

The nature has damaged regions in the west and east of Georgia. The hurricane wind tore roofs off houses and cut power lines.

"In Kobuleti the wind de-roofed 47 houses and damaged 93 houses in Khelvachauri. Around 80 houses were damaged in Shida Kartli. Regarding the capital (Tbilisi), the wind has de-roofed about 50 houses in the district named Avlabar. Across the country, about 60,000 users are without electricity," the "Trend" quotes Kakha Kaladze, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, as saying.

Repair units of energy companies work in emergency mode. According to Mr Kaladze, the state will reimburse the damage suffered by the population.

In the Tsalendjikh District, the wind felled trees and damaged power lines. Currently, the electricity supply has been restored there. The district also needs road cleaning, the "Georgia Online" reports.