DUSHANBE, December 22, 2011, Asia-Plus — Some 100 vehicles, mostly with Tajik number plates, have been trapped in an avalanche on the Osh-Sarytash-Irkeshtam highway in the Alay district of Kyrgyzstan’s Osh region.
Long-distance truck driver, who introduced himself as Yevgeny, got in touch with Asia-Plus by mobile phone Wednesday afternoon and said that it has been six days already that they are in a snow captivity.
“We are running out of our water and food supplies,” said Yevgeny. “We have got in touch with Kyrgyz emergency services and they have promised to help us.”
Khaybullo Latipov, the head of the Committee for Emergency Situations (CES) of Tajikistan, told Asia-Plus that they are aware of the emergency situation. “We are now in a permanent contact with our Kyrgyz colleagues,” said the CES head. “Kyrgyzstan has promised to mobilize equipment and personnel to help people trapped in the avalanche.”
Meanwhile, Kyrgyz media outlets report heavy snowfall has caused a series of avalanches that have blocked in several places the Osh-Sarytash-Irkeshtam highway. A snow clearance operation, involving 15 people and five special machines, is under way.
