MOSCOW, June 4. /TASS/. Russia’s emergencies ministry has offered its assistance to Georgia in eliminating the consequences of the devastating floods in the capital city of Tbilisi. More than 100 Russia rescuers with special equipment are ready to set off for Georgia any minute, the ministry’s press service told TASS on Sunday.
The floods were caused by hours-long torrential rains overnight to Sunday. Ground floors of more than 100 houses, underground walkways, squares have been flooded. Water has damaged motor ways, electricity transmission lines and other infrastructure facilities. The territory of the Tbilisi zoo has been partially flooded. Some animals died, some, including predators, escaped from their enclosures.
"Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov has referred an official letter to the Georgian interior ministry extending condolences over human deaths in the calamity and offering assistance in eliminating the consequences of the floods," the press service said.
"On this hard day for the Georgian people, the Russian emergencies ministry is ready to offer its assistance in eliminating the consequences of the emergency situation, to send a team of specialists with necessary equipment and tools," the letter says.
The press service said, two emergencies ministry’s Ilyushin-76 plane with special equipment and more than 100 international-class rescuers, who have enormous experience in dealing with such situation both in Russia and abroad, were ready to set off for Georgia.
According to the latest data, at least 12 people died and about 24 are reported missing.