Georgia landslide death toll hits 28

Georgian rescuers have found the body of another victim of a landslide in the Shovi resort in the mountainous Racha region.

The total number of victims of the disaster has reached 28, Agenda.ge reports citing the Georgian Interior Ministry.

"Search operations are continuing in Oni municipality. As a result of monitoring, rescuers found another body 55 km from the epicenter of the disaster," the report said. As specified by the agency, the total number of victims of the landslide amounted to 28, the search for five dead continues.

According to the Interior Ministry, search operations are being carried out in the beds of the Rioni and Chanchakhi rivers with the help of heavy equipment, swimming vehicles, manpower and cynologists.

The landslide hit cottages and other infrastructure in the resort in the afternoon of August 3, with over 800 professionals from the Emergency Management Service and the country’s Defence Forces involved in search and rescue efforts in its aftermath.