Tbilisi (Sputnik) — A blaze at a hotel in the Georgian seaside resort of Batumi reportedly killed 12 guests and hurt dozens overnight, Georgian media outlets said.
Georgian Interior Minister George Mghebrishvili said that foreign citizens were among the dead, adding that the incident has claimed at least 11 lives.
"I have information that 11 people were killed," the Minister said.
Earlier on in the day, Georgian Deputy Health Minister Zaza Sopromadze said 21 people had been taken to hospitals, three were promptly discharged. She added no one was in a life-threatening condition.
According to Georgian media reports, all of the beauty contestants were also unhurt.
12 people died — fire in #batumi hotel #Leogrand #BatumiFire photo by @adjaratv pic.twitter.com/pcXaDvSQ44
— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) 24 ноября 2017 г.
The authorities have deployed over a hundred firefighters to battle the massive blaze.
Meantime, Georgian officials have launched a probe into the cause of the deadly incident, saying that basic fire safety rules were allegedly neglected.
