Heavy snowfall paralyzes Imereti region: 149 villages isolated

Severe winter weather has led to the isolation of 149 villages in the Imereti region of western Georgia, cutting off thousands of residents from essential services. According to Levan Zalkaliani, the State Governor of Imereti, the extreme snowfall has disrupted electricity and natural gas supplies across multiple municipalities.

“As of this moment, 149 villages are locked down. Electricity is not supplied to approximately 30,000 subscribers, and natural gas service has been interrupted for 237 subscribers,” Zalkaliani told the press.

Authorities have also reported that the harsh weather conditions have forced the temporary closure of schools and kindergartens in certain municipalities, leaving students without access to education.

To mitigate the impact, 148 units of snow removal equipment have been deployed since the morning, working to clear roads leading to both cities and villages. Despite these efforts, transportation remains largely disrupted, making it difficult to restore normal conditions swiftly.

The Sachkhere Municipality City Hall has confirmed that nine villages—Nigvzara, Shomakheti, Tskhomareti, Bakhioti, Tskhami, Durevi, Chalovani, Lichi, and Ghodora – are completely cut off due to the heavy snowfall, which has accumulated between 50 to 120 centimeters in some areas.

Furthermore, studies have been suspended in 20 public schools across multiple villages, including Argveti, Gamoghma Argveti, Gorisa, Itavaza, Lichi, Merjevi, Mokhva, Modzvi, Makhatauri, Nigvzara, Sareki, Sisvadzeebi, Koreti, Shomakheti, Chalovani, Jalaurta, Tskhomareti, Sairkhe, Savane, and Chorvila. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to determine when educational activities can safely resume.

Despite the disruptions, local officials have reassured residents that electricity has been restored to all but 40 subscribers in the affected municipalities, while the supply of natural gas and drinking water remains intact in most areas.