The fire began near the village of Kvabiskhevi, around 12 kilometres southwest of the town of Borjomi, according to local sources.

The Emergency Management Service said that 600 professionals, including 300 firefighters, of the Special Tasks Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were trying to contain the fire.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Iraqli Garibashvili ordered Georgia’s Defense Forces to be involved in combating the forest fire in Borjomi Municipality.

“Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia has ruled to deploy defense forces in the effective fire-fighting actions aimed at avoiding the natural disaster in Borjomi municipality. An Executive Order has been signed by the Head of Government of Georgia on the deployment of defense forces in the emergency rescue activity,” the government said in a statement. (ILKHA)