Sukhumi residents demanded that officials put the storm drains in order.
The streets of Sukhumi have once again been flooded after heavy rain, a local resident complained on social media. Other citizens, commenting on her complaint, pointed out the non-functioning storm drains and demanded that officials solve the flooding problem.
One of the residents of Sukhumi filmed a video of a street in the city that was flooded during the rain. The footage shows cars driving through the flooded street, with the water level reaching their undercarriages.
"Sukhumi is becoming like Venice. The rains continue to flood the streets of the capital," the text description of the video states.
This video was published on August 17 by the Instagram*-public chp_abh, which has about 100 thousand users subscribed. As of 10:45 AM Moscow time on August 18, this video had received 570 likes and 47 comments.
Commentators pointed out the problem with the storm drains and criticized the officials. "In which area is this street? They cleaned the storm drains for us, what kind of disaster is this every time?" asked user olaala__v.
"Why is it impossible to put the manholes in order? I don't understand. Does it require huge investments?" asked user baklava_sukhum.
"Our government needs to be made to walk in such weather so they know how people live," stated irmaadleiba76.
Users pointed out that the flooding problem in Sukhumi has been relevant for a long time. "It happens every time, the streams of rain carry branches and trash, and it all clogs up, it's some kind of vicious circle," wrote user abhazia90.
"It will get worse..." suggested user lakrba.lab.
Some commentators reacted to the flooding with irony. "How do you like Venice?" asked monika_shakaya_. "We were heading to Abkhazia, and we arrived in Venice. Where else will you be greeted like this?" quipped user abraskil_knives. "We need to hold a water festival," suggested ya_kolya___.
The central part of the city was flooded in Sukhumi, reported Konstantin Tarba, the deputy head of the city administration. "Utility services have mobilized all resources. Everyone is helping each other. We are managing. Currently, work is underway to clean the streets, we are tidying up our house after the rain," Sukhumcity.ru quoted him on August 17.
"Caucasian Knot" also reported that residents of Sukhumi have repeatedly complained about the problem of street flooding. For instance, in August 2021, after heavy rains, houses, streets, and cars in the city were flooded, and the Basla River overflowed its banks.
According to the weather service of the Caucasian Knot, today in Sukhumi there is variable cloudiness, the air temperature is +24 degrees, and the wind speed is 1 meter per second. A light rain is expected on the night of August 19, the air temperature will drop to +19 degrees, and the wind speed will remain the same. The weather service is a partner project of the "Caucasian Knot" and Gismeteo. The service also allows to correct meteorological data for a more accurate forecast. The service is also available in a light version and in the "Caucasian Knot" applications for Android and AndroidGO.