KHOROG, October 20, 2010, Asia-Plus — Damage caused to Gorno Badakhshan by this year’s natural disasters has been estimated at more than 25.2 million somoni, the GBAO emergencies official Doustali Khudoyorov told reporters in Khorog o October 20.
According to him, 118 emergency situations have been reported in the region over the first nine months of this year, including nine earthquakes, 58 avalanches, three large floods, and three rockfalls.
2,000 residential buildings have been affected by disasters; 185 of them have been destroyed to the extent of being unsuitable for living. “The earthquake that jolted Vanj district on January 2 completely destroyed 164 houses and floods have destroyed 8 houses in Murgab and 11 houses in Rushan, Shugnan and Ishkashim districts,” Khudoyorov said, noting the government and international organizations have provided assistance to all 185 families that have been left homeless.
“To-date, new houses have been built for 54 families in Vanj district and two houses have been built for victims of the flood in Murgab,” noted the GBAO emergencies official, “Houses for remaining victims of the Vanj tremor and the Murgab flood are expected to be put in commission by mid-November this year.”
Besides, this year’s disasters have caused serious damage to 76 educational, medical and cultural facilities in the region and destroyed 15 kilometers of power transmission lines, 143 kilometers of communication lines, 288 kilometers of roads, 21 pedestrian and automotive bridges in Gorno Badakhshan. Major part of them has already been rehabilitated and repaired, Khudoyorov said.



