Date: August 2023
Location: Shovi, Racha region, Georgia
In August 2023, two Dutch citizens were reported missing following a devastating landslide in the mountainous region of Shovi, Georgia. Rescue International was contacted to support the search efforts in an environment heavily impacted by debris flows and infrastructure loss.
Within hours, Rescue International activated its assets to acquire and process the first—and only—available satellite imagery captured post-disaster. Through multispectral and wavelength-specific analysis, the imagery revealed the full extent of the landslide as well as the vectors of the alluvial fan, helping identify high-priority search zones.
This geospatial intelligence was shared with Georgian authorities and the Civil Defense teams managing the response. The data played a critical role in orienting the initial stages of the search and recovery efforts.
The landslide resulted in 33 confirmed fatalities. While the toll was significant, the rapid delivery of technical data helped authorities respond more strategically in the face of a complex natural disaster.
