DUSHANBE, August 3, 2015, Asia-Plus — While most roads are open, people throughout much of Tajikistan are being advised not to travel unnecessarily to mountain areas.
“Hydromet forecasts a sharp rise in temperatures today that increases the risk of further mudslides and floods in mountain areas, where dozens of severe mudslides and floods occurred last month,” Orif Nozimov, a spokesman for the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CES), told Asia-Plus in an interview today.
According to him, the CES rescue teams have been put on alert and “residents and guests of Tajikistan are advised to refrain from traveling to mountain areas.”
Hydromet forecasts new mudslides and floods in mountain areas in August. New mudslides and floods are reportedly expected in Shugnan, Rushan and Darvoz districts of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) as well as in Tojikobod, Varzob and Shahriston districts.
We will recall that mudslides and floods caused by melting glaciers have killed six people in the Vanj district of Gorno Badakhshan.
Besides, severe mudflows triggered by glacial melt amid abnormally hot weather in the country affected the villages of Barsem, Berdibekobod and Kolkhozobod in the Shugnan district on July 16. The mudflows carrying with them the mass of slurry, huge rocks and uprooted trees formed a giant dam blocking the Ghund River and creating an artificial lake. Mudslides and floods destroyed dozens of residential buildings, trade and cultural facilities, electricity lines, and an irrigation system in the mentioned villages.
According to the government data, mudslides and floods destroyed 72 residential buildings in the Shugnan district. The families whose houses were destroyed were moved to a safer area and settled in a temporary tent camp.
Mudslides also caused serious damages to GBAO’s Darvoz district.
In the Rasht district (eastern Tajikistan), mudslides and floods have completely destroyed 50 houses and partially damaged 15 houses. One person was killed by mudslide in the Rasht district.
Tajik MFA said on July 21 that the damages caused by the mudslides and floods were estimated at 100 million U.S. dollars.
