A series of mudslides caused by recent torrential rains have caused a serious damage to the economies of some districts in the country. 

According to the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, torrential rains at the end of last week caused a series of mudslides in Darvoz and Vanj districts in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), a number of districts in the Kulob zone of Khatlon province as well as in some districts in the northern Sughd province and three districts (Tursunzoda, Shahrinav and Hisor) subordinate to the center.

The mudslides have reportedly damaged agricultural lands and roads in the mentioned district.  In Tursunzoda, a mudslide partially damaged a residential building in the village of Dehvak and four bridges.  No injured was reported, according to Umeda Yusufi, a spokeswoman for the Emergencies Committee.

Besides, forty avalanches and rockfalls were reported in the mountain areas on April 7, says the Emergencies Committee.

A special commission has reportedly been set up to assess the actual damage caused by the disasters to the districts’ economies.  

Meanwhile, the Hydrometeorology Agency (Hydromet) says rainy weather is expected in the country within the next three days.

In this connection, the Emergencies Committee warns about the risk of floods, mudslides and landslides in mountain areas and advises people not to travel unnecessarily to the mountain areas.     

Tajikistan’s rescue teams have reportedly been put on alert.  

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy of Tajikistan, about 3,500 natural disasters had been registered in the country during the period from 1997 to 2018.  The damage caused by these disasters to the country’s economy has been estimated at 600 million U.S. dollars.