DUSHANBE, February 19, Asia-Plus — Heavy snowfalls that hit mountain areas of the country on February 17-18 caused a series of avalanches that blocked in several places many roads, Asia-Plus has learned from Qurbonali Saidov, the head of the transportation safety department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).
“On the Anzob pass alone, some 50 large and small avalanches occurred,” said the MoTC official, “The most serious situation is in the Maykhura area.”
According to him, warmer temperatures have increased the risk of further avalanches in Tajikistan. The risk has definitely increased, because the weather is not cold and the sun is shining in most places, he said. This makes the snow heavier and increases the risk of avalanches.
In the meantime, heavy snowfalls on February 17-18 caused a series of avalanches in eastern Tajikistan as well. The avalanches blocked in several places the road Nourobod-Rasht. No casualties were reported, according to Saidov. Work on cleaning the road of snow is under way.
Besides, specialists expect a series of avalanches to occur in some places of the highway from Dushanbe to Khorog, Gorno Badakhshan as well.
In the meantime, according to the Committee for Emergency Situations (CES), an avalanche that occurred in GBAO’s Darvoz district on the night of February 15-16 trapped three persons. Two of them were rescued, while one of them was killed by the avalanche, the source at a CES said.
