Georgian resort after tragedy
Destroyed buildings, dirty hotels, torn curtains in rooms, piles of boulders — this is what Georgia’s famous Shovi resort looks like two years after the disaster.
- “We cannot forget”: One year since the tragedy at the Shovi resort in Georgia, where a landslide claimed 33 lives
- What happened at the resort in Shovi? Initial conclusions
Destroyed buildings, dirty hotels, torn curtains in rooms, piles of boulders — this is what Georgia’s famous Shovi resort looks like two years after the disaster.
What happened in Shovi?
On 3 August 2023, at 3 p.m., a landslide struck Shovi. A massive flow of mud and silt covered the entire resort within minutes, sweeping away holiday homes along its path. The overflowing river destroyed bridges, cars, and large trees, turning hectares of land into a thick muddy mass.
People caught in the landslide called for rescuers, who soon arrived but struggled due to the scale of the disaster. A rescue helicopter landed at the site in the evening, three hours after the landslide occurred.
The disaster claimed 33 lives, including small children. Rescue teams spent several days searching for bodies buried in the mud, and one person is still listed as missing. Their search continued for weeks before being suspended.
What is happening in Shovi today?
Shovi resort, once very popular for its unique location and natural beauty, is now abandoned and looks like a ghost town.
In one of the hotel rooms, guests’ clothes are still scattered, and a dirty suitcase lies on the floor. Among the items, a colorful sundress and boys’ jeans are clearly visible. They are the only reminders that life here once buzzed with activity.
“Georgian Dream” rarely talks about the Shovi disaster. The government only brings it up on August 3 — the anniversary of the catastrophe. Even then, the main message is that the tragedy could not have been avoided.
“We have started joint research with a Swiss company. We will study glaciers and erosion processes across the country, and this will help us prevent similar risks,” said Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on August 3, two years after the Shovi disaster.
The prime minister did not specify what exactly the research entails or when the results would be available. He also did not mention that the national environmental agency already conducts similar studies every year, nor that the relevant reports exist — they just go unread.
Exactly one year earlier, on the anniversary of the Shovi disaster, Kobakhidze announced that a memorial church would be built at the site:
“This was a very large tragedy that shook the whole country, and today it is our duty to show maximum attention and compassion. There are specific requests for the development of the area, which is important for mitigating the consequences of the disaster, and we will do everything possible to meet them. A church will also be built here — it is a small gesture of compassion for those who lost loved ones.”
The latest update is that on 3 August 2024, a year after the tragedy, Bishop Vakhtang of Nikortsminda, together with the clergy, held a memorial service for the victims and consecrated the church’s foundation. This information was later released by the government press office.
We do not know what the government intends to do or whether it has any plans for Shovi. It is unclear if the resort will ever be restored or if people will be able to live there again.
Georgian resort after tragedy
