A Gal-Media TV station building has burned down in Abkhazia
In Abkhazia, a building housing the regional TV company Gal-Media has been destroyed by fire. Without their equipment, journalists now plan to film their reports using smartphones.
The TV company, which serves the predominantly ethnic Georgian Gali district, occupied several rooms in a four-storey building. The fire destroyed the editing room, recording room and studio where the main news bulletins were produced. It also destroyed all the studio equipment, the server room and the entire archive.
Security camera footage helped investigators identify the exact point where the fire started. It broke out near the ceiling, where a layer of soundproofing foam had been installed. Specialists believe an old bundle of electrical wiring may have caused the fire. Although the premises underwent renovations in 2016, workers did not replace this old section of wiring.
Gali district administration head Konstantin Pilia said emergency services were investigating the incident and expected to release their findings in the coming days. Specialists are also assessing the extent of the damage and the cost of repairs and replacement equipment. The district and republican authorities have already begun taking steps to restore the TV station’s operations.
Because of the fire, Gal-Media will continue operating on a limited basis. Journalists will temporarily use their surviving personal smartphones and laptops to prepare reports. This will allow them to publish information on social media. However, the station’s regular analogue broadcasts will be suspended for the time being, Gal-Media head Thea Arshba said.
The Gali district administration is already looking for temporary premises for the TV company’s staff while repairs are under way.
The terminology, place names and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this website.
Gal-Media TV station premises destroyed by fire in Abkhazia
