Avalanches have blocked the Dushanbe-Khorog highway in several places in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). Besides, an avalanche has partially damaged three residential buildings in Shugnan district.
Heavy snowfall on January 16 caused a series of avalanches that blocked in several places the highway connecting Dushanbe and Khorog, the administrative center of Gorno Badakhshan.
According to the Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CoES) under the Government of Tajikistan, avalanches blocked the highway in several places in Darvoz district (334th, 344th, 363rd and 364th kilometers), Vanj district (462nd kilometer), Rushan district (566th and 574th kilometers), and Shugnan district (589th and 594th kilometers).
A work on clearing the Dushanbe-Khorog highway of snow is under way.
“An avalanche that hit the village of Pashor in Shugnan district partially damaged three residential buildings,” said Umeda Yusuf, a spokeswoman for the CoES.
No injured was reported, according to her. Local authorities have reportedly provided assistance to owners of the damaged houses.
Roads leading from Khorog to Ishkashim and Murgab districts are still closed for traffic.
Meanwhile, roads leading from Dushanbe to other regions of the country are open for traffic.
The CoES warns of the risk of further avalanches in Varzob district, mountain districts subordinate to the center (Rasht Valley) and the western part of the GBAO.
