Heavy rain floods Tbilisi, forces evacuations, disrupts traffic VIDEO

Heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding and disruptions across Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, overnight, prompting municipal services and district administrations to operate under emergency procedures.

Floodwaters inundated streets, basements and several metro stations, while intermittent power outages were reported across the city. Traffic on numerous roads was brought to a standstill as water levels rose, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

The most difficult conditions were reported in the Saburtalo district, according to local authorities.

A gas pipeline was damaged on Chikovani Street, prompting the evacuation of residents from a nearby apartment block. The pipeline was subsequently repaired.

The heavy rain also transformed the Legvtakhevi Gorge, a popular tourist site known for its waterfall, into a torrent carrying mud, trees and rocks.

On Tamarashvili Avenue, floodwater reached several tens of centimetres in depth.

A landslide was also reported on Sanere Street, where a retaining wall of a residential building was damaged.

Municipal services continued working throughout the night to clear the consequences of the severe weather and restore normal conditions in affected areas.

By Sabina Mammadli