A minibus carrying 14 Israeli tourists traveling in Georgia crashed headlong into a roving truck Sunday morning, and a number of them were injured. Diplomatic sources say a 58-year old woman was killed.
Georgian rescue forces arrived on the scene to treat those injured in the crash, and then evacuated them to a nearby hospital.
Two people suffered severe wounds and seven others sustained moderate-severe injuries. Three were lightly injured and are suffering from fractured bones, according to reports.
- Seven people require medical evacuation by air, and the Georgian government says it will transport them using a Boeing 737.
The plane is to land in Kutaisi, the second-largest city in Georgia and the travelers' destination before they were hit, in order transport the travelers to Tbilisi, and from there to Israel.
Because the airstrip in Kutaisi is suited only for small craft, a special team is at work preparing for the jet's landing. The wounded parties are scheduled to land in Israel late Sunday evening.
The Israeli embassy in Tbilisi is in contact with rescuers, and the Foreign Ministry has stated that it is in touch with the tourists' families in Israel.
The group left Israel last week and were scheduled to return home in a few days.
Despite the tragic consequences, a tour guide who was on board the minibus says the group was lucky the accident occurred on a main road, allowing rescue forces o arrive within just a half an hour.
Ahiya Raved contributed to this report
First published: 10:32, 07.10.11