DUSHANBE, February 4, 2014, Asia-Plus — At least 15 people have been killed after heavy snow blanketed parts of Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, Radio Liberty reported on February 3.
At least 10 deaths were blamed on the bad weather, including avalanches, over the past several days in Afghanistan.
Officials in the Afghan Department for Natural Disasters told RFE/RL that the severe weather had affected northern provinces bordering Tajikistan, where numerous flights have also been canceled at the international airport in Dushanbe, the capital.
Airports in two major cities in Tajikistan”s south, Kulob and Qurghon Teppa, have been completely shut down.
In some parts of Tajikistan, up to 80 centimeters of snow reportedly fell in just a few hours.
Tajik kindergartens, schools, and universities have been closed until February 10.
In neighboring Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, avalanches killed five people.
The airport in the southern city of Jalal-Abad has been closed.
