Russian-Georgian land border shut down amid high avalanche risk

The only checkpoint "Kazbegi - Verkhny Lars" on the North Ossetian section of the Russian-Georgian border is closed indefinitely due to bad weather and the danger of avalanches.

"On the Gudauri - Kobi section of the motorway of international importance Mtskheta - Stepantsminda - Lars avalanche danger level is high, so the movement of all types of vehicles is prohibited in this section," the report by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia says, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

The municipality of the Georgian town of Stepantsminda confirmed that between 600 and 800 vehicles had piled up along the entire length of the motorway towards the border. Moreover, road and patrol police do not allow not only heavy vehicles but also any vehicles and even pedestrians to get to the checkpoint.

The ban on pedestrians is explained by the fact that the threat of avalanches exists in the gorge in the immediate vicinity of the Georgian Kazbegi checkpoint and all the way to the Russian Upper Lars checkpoint.

The Georgian authorities plan to open the road only after experts are satisfied that it is safe to travel. The situation is complicated by the fact that the mountains have started to warm up, which increases the danger of avalanches.