City Council Chairman: ‘Children’s World’ building should be demolished, it may collapse any time

The structure of the Children’s World trade center has been damaged as a result of fire and part of the burned building has collapsed. There is still a risk that another part will fall into pieces too.

According to Giorgi Alibegashvili, Tbilisi Sakrebulo (City Council) Chairman, the Children’s World building has been distorted completely. ‘Regrettably, it’s impossible to enter the building, since the concrete slab has been damaged and may collapse any time. It seems the building needs to be demolished,” said Giorgi Alibegashvili.

Dozens of vendors have been affected as a result of burning down of 13-sq.m. trade center. The precise amount of damage inflicted by fire hasn’t been estimated yet. According to the trade center director, the damage inflicted to the building alone exceeds GEL1million.

The so-called ‘Gold Exchange’ was completely destroyed by fire. Those, who traded in gold find it difficult to estimate the damage at this stage.

According to the chief of Tbilisi City Hall’s rescue service, all jewelry stored in the building are protected. In his words, experts will be able to get into the building and examine the area in a couple of hours, after the temperature in the building gets lower enough. Afterwards it will be possible to start removing goods from the building.

There has been a minor confrontation between the City Hall officials and the vendors over the gold that is left in the building. Those, who have been affected by the fire insist on protecting the building. In their words, most of the gold items were stored in saves, consequently, the law-enforcers should control the area to prevent the loss of intact items.

Tbilisi Vice Mayor, Lasha Abashidze, also visited the incident scene.  In his words, the municipal government will meet the building owners and the victims to mitigate their losses to the extent possible.

Meanwhile, Tbilisi Mayor, David Narmania  said, the losses wouldn’t be indemnified from the municipal budget. He rested responsibility for damage of the trade center as a result of fire on the Children’s World administration. According to Giorgi Machavariani, the trade center executive director, the administration will assume responsibility and wait for the end of investigation.  In his words, according to the early estimates, the damage totals several million lari.

As far as investigation is concerned, Deputy Interior Minister, according to Merab Malania, the causes of the fire are unknown yet. In his words, the hot spot was presumably outside the building.

Aldagi insurance company said, only the JSC. Children’s World building was insured. The vendors’ property wasn’t secured by insurance. The trade center building was insured for GEL6million.

The Children’s World trade center caught on fire at 3 a.m., on January 30. The whole building was set ablaze and burned down completely. Dozens of people, who traded there, have been affected. 31 fire units and as many as 215 firemen dealt with the fire. Two firemen were injured. There is no risk to their heath state now.