**Heavy Snow Strands Villages in Western Georgia**
A severe snowstorm has hit the high mountains of western Georgia, leaving several villages without gas, electricity, and water. The worst-affected region is Guria.
The heavy snowfall started on February 20 and has continued since then. On Friday, February 21, government agencies issued severe weather warnings but failed to mobilize emergency help.
**Government Responds Five Days Late**
Five days into the emergency, the Georgian government finally decreed that the army should be mobilized to manage the situation. Local officials claim they are doing their best to help people cut off from basic services.
The snow has been extremely heavy in some areas, with reports of it exceeding two meters. This has caused problems on roads, blocking passage for emergency vehicles and ambulances. In some villages, roofs have collapsed under the weight of the snow.
**Reports of Deaths and Desperate Calls for Help**
There have been reports of several deaths since the snowstorm started. One middle-aged man died in Konchkati village while helping his elderly neighbor to de-snow their roof.
A woman was reported dead in Japareuli village due to diabetic shock as she was unable to procure insulin. Her 80-year-old mother is now alone and unable to receive help.
**Social Media Filled with Desperate Calls for Help**
People on social media have been calling for help, saying they are trapped without subsistence or roofs that have caved in under the heavy snow.
One person wrote that their neighbor’s house had collapsed. Another said she was waiting for rescue and couldn’t leave her home because of the deep snow.
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