Tbilisi City Hall pledges financial aid to vendors affected by market fire

Tbilisi City Hall has announced a financial assistance package for vendors affected by a devastating fire that broke out at a market near Station Square in central Tbilisi last week. 

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said the fire had left approximately 400 vendors facing severe losses, with their products and market infrastructure completely destroyed. He emphasized that City Hall had acted promptly, allocating funds from the reserve fund to begin cleanup and dismantling work at the site.

"As you know, last week a fire broke out at one of the vending areas near the station square, which resulted in approximately 400 people being affected. Unfortunately, the products and the infrastructure on site have been completely destroyed," Kaladze stated. "The Emergency Situations Management Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is still working at the scene."

Kaladze highlighted that City Hall, in cooperation with Vice Mayor Irakli Khmaladze, had “immediately initiated” discussions with affected vendors. Several meetings have already been held with their representatives, aiming to provide comprehensive support within the municipality’s capabilities, he claimed. 

The first priority, he noted, was the cleanup of the market area and the dismantling of damaged structures. This work is being carried out by a contractor company engaged by Tbilisi City Hall, with funds allocated from the reserve budget, Kaladze added. 

The mayor also announced that City Hall was actively developing an aid package that would offer financial support to the affected vendors. "We understand that this assistance cannot fully compensate for the damage they have suffered, but it will help them resume their activities," he said.

Kaladze expressed gratitude to the banking sector, particularly the Bank of Georgia and TBC Bank, for offering grace periods on loans taken by affected vendors. "I want to personally thank them for their support and cooperation," he said.

Looking ahead, the dismantling and waste removal at the site are expected to take around one month. Following this, restoration work will begin, with the company leasing the premises taking responsibility for arranging the area, the Mayor announced. 

"Everything will be restored. We have been in contact with the company that operates the area, and they have committed to fully restoring the territory once the cleanup is complete," Kaladze assured.