search_area_Lagodekhi_with_map_inset

A helicopter is searching along the River Kabali (red).

TBILISI, DFWatch–A search is continuing by ground crews and helicopter for three people who have been missing for eight days in the Lagodekhi area in eastern Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan (see map).

Information about the missing people was sent to the emergency service on January 2, when the rescue workers began a search.

Four people went hunting near the border. Only one of them returned on December 31; the other three got lost due to bad weather. It has not been possible to reach their mobile phones.

The bad weather prevented the use of helicopters for a few days, but Sunday evening a helicopter was sent to search in a valley along the the River Kabali. Rescue crews were sent from Tbilisi, while locals are also attempt to find the missing.

The bad weather is creating further difficulties on the roads. According to the Road Department, there are restrictions on Tbilisi-Bakurtsikhe-Lagodekhi road from the 20 km mark to the 160 km mark near the Azerbaijani border, but restrictions only apply to trailers and semi-trailers.