Eighteen avalanches occurred in Tajikistan yesterday blocking roads in Varzob district and the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), according to the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan.  

“On March 9, avalanches occurred on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway blocking it on the 57th, 58th, 67th, 68th and 71st kilometers. No injured was reported,” said a source within the Emergencies Committee.  “On the same day, avalanches occurred on the Dushanbe-Khorog, Khorog-Ishkashim and Khorog-Murgab roads blocking them in some places; fortunately, no inured was reported.”

The work on clearing the roads of snow is under way.

Besides, torrential rain on March 9 caused a rock-fall on the 237th kilometer of the Darvoz – Shamsiddin-Shoin – Kulob road.  The road was already cleared of rocks and slurry, the source said.  

The Hydrometeorology Agency (Hydromet) says precipitation will continue in the country until the end of the week. 

Warmer temperatures have increased the risk of further avalanches in Tajikistan, where sixty-four snow-slides have occurred over the past three days. 

The Emergencies Committee advises people not to travel to mountain areas unnecessarily.