Agency’s Statement on the Next Incorrect Information Broadcast on One of the TV Channels
Hydrometeorology
The National Environmental Agency is explaining another misunderstood and incorrect information broadcast on one of the TV channels, which refers to the SMS message about the expected weather forecast issued by the agency before the Shovi tragedy, and deliberately misleads the public.
It should be noted that the VMS prepared and distributed by the National Environmental Agency on expected weather deterioration is not a secret document. This type of message is systematically sent to all relevant agencies and distributed on the official Facebook page of the agency.
The agency’s messages do not predict natural events like what happened at Shovi, which are almost impossible to predict. (Specialists from the National Environmental Agency provided detailed information to the public in the first communication on the Shovi tragedy).
With regard to the map prepared by the National Environmental Agency and the expected risks described in the Geological Information Bulletin, It should be noted that the Geological Department of the National Environmental Agency produces an information geological bulletin every year, which describes the state of geological hazards throughout the region. Countries in the reporting year and forecast for the following year. The 2022 bulletin refers to the Dgviora River, which is the left-hand tributary of the Chanchahi River, where torrential flows often take place.
This place is 1.5 km downstream of the disaster zone. The valley of the Dgvora River was formed under very different morphological and geological conditions.
The bulletin is an information document of a general nature that cannot be used as a basis for a specific conclusion to which the specific media have appealed.
With regard to the early warning system, since 2018 work has been under way on monitoring systems involving experts from international donor organizations. The project has purchased more than 150 meteorological and hydrological monitoring stations, some of which have already been installed and the process is continuing. It is a whole complex of activities consisting of various devices such as weather station, radar, areometer and so on. The system provides information on the basis of which forecasts are made and information is provided to the relevant services. Also in recent years we have acquired two modern radar systems in Western and Eastern Georgia. Hazard maps have been prepared and will be completed by the end of the year. It is in recent years that very serious steps have been taken in this direction; it is forbidden to interpret this topic and mislead the public.
