The 1987 Svaneti avalanches was a series of massive

avalanches An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be set off spontaneously, by such factors as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, animals, and earth ...

in the northwest

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historically ...

highlands of the then- Soviet republic of Georgia, which hit, in January 1987, the country's

Svaneti Svaneti or Svanetia (Suania in ancient sources; ka, სვანეთი ) is a historic province in the northwestern part of Georgia (country), Georgia. It is inhabited by the Svans, an ethnic subgroup of Georgians. Geography Situated o ...

province, namely the

Mestia Mestia ( ka, მესტია ) is a highland townlet ('' daba'') in northwest Georgia, at an elevation of in the Caucasus Mountains. General information Mestia is located in the Svaneti region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti province (''mkhare''), ...

and

Lentekhi Lentekhi ( ka, ლენტეხი, ) is a small town and Lentekhi District's (Raion) capital in Georgia's western region of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, 323 km northwest to the nation's capital Tbilisi. Situated on the southern slope ...

districts. The avalanches were brought about by unprecedented snowfall which lasted for 46 days, falling 16 meters thick at several places. From 9 to 31 January 1987 330 avalanches were registered. The mountainous villages such as Chuberi,

Ushguli Ushguli ( ka, უშგული) is a community of five villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Svaneti, Georgia. Ushguli is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. Compared to somewhat more developed towns li ...

, Mulakhi,

Kala Kala or Kalah may refer to: Religion Hinduism *Kāla, a Sanskrit word meaning ''time'' *Kāla, a Hindu deity of time, destiny, death and destruction closely related to Yama and Shiva. *Kalā, a Sanskrit word meaning ''performing arts'' * Kala Bo, ...

, and Khaishi were heavily hit. The village of Zhamushi was completely buried in snow, with 26 killed. In total, 105 people died in the disaster. More than 2,000 houses were damaged and about 8,500 people had to be resettled. The total damage caused was about $300 million.

References

{{Georgia-hist-stub 1980s avalanches Svaneti avalanches 1987 Svaneti avalanches Svaneti avalanches Svaneti avalanches Avalanches 1987 Svaneti avalanches Natural disasters in the Soviet Union