Deadly landslide in Georgia claims 7 lives; 30 missing

Authorities in western Georgia said Friday as many as seven people have died leaving 30 others missing after a deadly landslide in the region of Racha Friday, triggering emergency rescue and relief operations for the victims.

Prime Minister Georgia Irakli Garibashvili said seven were killed and more than 30 others are missing, adding that rescuers were on the scene.

The PM said that he had called in the army to help with search efforts.

"Unfortunately, seven bodies have been found so far. It is a very difficult situation... they are looking for more than 30, but let's wait for the results," he said.

The interior ministry said in an earlier post that 140 people had been evacuated. Two helicopters and rescue dogs were involved in the search efforts.

According to AFP, images showed rescue workers picking through debris partially buried by the moved earth.

Teams worked with their hands and with excavators to shift the soil.

The landslide took place on Thursday in Shovi, a small resort area in Georgia's mountainous northwest famed for its vast forests and natural springs.

Merab Gaprindashvili, a geologist from Georgia's National Environmental Agency, said Thursday's landslide was caused by a combination of factors and was unlikely to happen again.

"In particular, there are two glaciers in the headwaters of the river, which are intensively melting. This was accompanied by heavy rainfall," he said in a televised interview.

Heavy rains and flooding are not uncommon in Georgia, where steep slopes pose a risk of landslides.

In 2008 six people were killed by a landslide in the southern Black Sea region of Adjara.