As a result of heavy rains in several cities and districts of Tajikistan on May 19-20, mudslides occurred, causing material damage to residents. Efforts are underway to eliminate the consequences of natural disasters, Orif Nozimiyon, a spokesman for the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, residents of the cities of Kulob (Khatlon province) and Panjakent (Sughd province), as well as Panj and Yovon districts in Khatlon and Asht district in Sughd were most affected by the precipitation.
Nozimiyon noted that currently in all the affected regions, with the help of special equipment, soldiers and officers of the Committee, as well as the local population, work is being carried out to clear and eliminate the consequences of the disaster.
According to the Emergencies Committee, the mudslides that occurred on May 19 in Kulob’s mahallas (traditional neighborhood communities) of Khati Roh, Kurbong Zardakov, Oriyono, Daminzoda, Korvonguzar, and Sodiqov caused damage to local residents, the extent of which is still being determined.
The mudflow in the village of Vahdatobod in the Panj district reportedly brought mud and silt to the plots and houses of residents. Here, with the efforts of the local population and civil defense services, 28 residential houses and yards were completely cleared of mud, and water was pumped out of 6 more houses.
In Yovon district, the mudslide caused damage to the residents of the villages of Pakhtakor in the Sitorai Surkh jamoat (rural municipality) and Obi Mukiy village in the Obshoron jamoat. With the efforts of residents and the Emergencies Committee employees, 200 meters of the canal, 300 meters of roads, and 4 residential houses were cleared, and restoration work continues. The extent of the damage from the mudslide in this city is also unknown.
According to Nozimiyon, the natural disaster also caused damage to the districts of the Sughd region. In the city of Panjakent on May 19, mudflows brought clay to the villages of Gusar, Navobod, and Bogcha in the Shing jamoat.
The mudslide in Sughd’s Asht district on the same day caused damage to the mahallas of Tagi Sang, Dosti, Jarqishloq, and Tolonak in the Punuk jamoat. The mudslide partially or completely destroyed roads between the mahallas, knocked down 3-4 electric poles, damaged a bridge, and flooded the basements of 5 houses with mud.
Orif Nozimiyon reported that currently, the District Emergency Commission is monitoring the situation at the incident site and continues to assess and determine the extent of the damage.
It should be noted that videos of the mudslides were also posted on social media in the Vahdatobod village of the Panj district and in the city of Roghun, resulting in mud entering residents’ homes and destroying sheep.
Every year, as a result of rains, especially in spring, mudflows occur in some regions of Tajikistan, causing significant damage to local residents and, in some cases, leading to loss of life. According to the CES of RT, over more than four months of this year (from January 1 to May 13), 8 people died as a result of natural disasters.
In particular, on the night of May 1 in Kulob, a mudslide claimed the lives of three people and injured three more. Several houses and various facilities were damaged. The damage from the flood in this city is still unknown. Authorities previously reported that as a result of mudslides in Kulob, 850 families were affected.
