Mudslides kill 18 in Tajikistan
Mudslides kill 18 in Tajikistan
Powerful mudslides have killed at least 18 people in the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan this month, the emergencies ministry said. Landslides happen every year in Tajikistan but they were stronger than usual this spring due to heavy rainfall. That has added hardship to the mountainous nation of seven million, already hit hard by the global economic downturn.
The ministry said 18 people, including seven children, have died in separate landslides and avalanches over the past two weeks in the mainly Muslim former Soviet republic. Rain and melting snow often cause torrents of water, clay and rocks to cascade onto settlements in spring in the mountainous nation bordering Afghanistan.
Last week, a powerful mudslide swept through the central streets of the capital Dushanbe, causing panic among some of its residents. No-one was killed.
©abc
Powerful mudslides have killed at least 18 people in the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan this month, the emergencies ministry said. Landslides happen every year in Tajikistan but they were stronger than usual this spring due to heavy rainfall. That has added hardship to the mountainous nation of seven million, already hit hard by the global economic downturn.
The ministry said 18 people, including seven children, have died in separate landslides and avalanches over the past two weeks in the mainly Muslim former Soviet republic. Rain and melting snow often cause torrents of water, clay and rocks to cascade onto settlements in spring in the mountainous nation bordering Afghanistan.
Last week, a powerful mudslide swept through the central streets of the capital Dushanbe, causing panic among some of its residents. No-one was killed.
©abc
