The China Railway Tunnel Group on Tuesday completed the boring of a major tunnel in northern Georgia ahead of schedule, significantly boosting the country's connectivity.
Located approximately 2,000 meters above sea level in the southern foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, the Gudauri Tunnel consists of a 9,000-meter main tunnel and emergency tunnels. It serves as an important hub in Georgia's corridor to Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and other neighboring countries.
The Chinese company used the largest caliber tunnel boring machine in Georgia's largest single infrastructure project.
With its operation, the tunnel will reduce travel time on the country's main north-south road from the town of Kvesheti to the town of Kobi by 40 minutes and eliminate traffic disruptions caused by avalanches and bad weather, which is expected to boost tourism and trade in northern Georgia.
The Gudauri Tunnel and related projects are part of the construction cooperation between Georgia and China under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Major Chinese-built road tunnel completed in Georgia
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 42,924 since October 7, 2023, Gaza-based health authorities reported in a statement issued on Saturday.
Over the past 48 hours, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed 77 people and wounded 289 others, bringing the total number of injuries to 100,833.
According to the health authorities and Palestinian media, Israeli air strikes hit multiple locations across the Gaza Strip on Friday.
The Israeli attack on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 38 people, most of them women and children. Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, was also struck by the Israeli army, resulting in additional casualties.
On the same day, the Israeli army raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, arresting hundreds of patients, medical staff, and displaced persons who had taken refuge there.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Friday that its army was conducting military operations in and around Kamal Adwan Hospital, based on intelligence indicating the presence of Palestinian militants.
On Saturday, Israeli media said that the country’s military has withdrawn from the hospital, but the IDF has yet to comment on this information.
Kamal Adwan Hospital is one of the few hospitals operating in northern Gaza. The hospital said it has been struggling with a severe shortage of medical supplies since the outbreak of the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The military operation launched by Israel in northern Gaza earlier this month has further exacerbated the situation.
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 42,924
