KULOB, February 2, Asia-Plus -- Minor tremors measuring 1.0-1.5 are still felt in Baljuvon District of Khatlon so far, Jamila Tilloyeva, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) has told Asia-Plus, noting that a team of experts that left for the site on January 30 to closely monitoring the situation is still there. 

As it had been reported earlier, 481 countryside houses were damaged or affected as a result of the January earth tremors in the remote mountain areas of Baljuvon District, some 140 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe.  Eight local tremors measuring from 2.5 to 5.0 points on the 12-point scale could be felt in the area on January 10-15.  The tremors were centered in the area some 15 kilometers of the Village of Baljuvon.  The worst hit was the Sarikhosor Jamoat, where 440 houses were damaged by the tremors, 95 of them were destroyed completely.   

In the meantime, the Kulob-based NGO “Anis” yesterday delivered humanitarian aid to Baljuvon for the disaster-hit population in Sarikhosor.    

The “Anis” chairperson, Idimo Kholmurodova, has told Asia-Plus that international organization provided humanitarian aid worth US$563,000 Somonis, and the major part of the aid was distributed to orphanages, kindergartens and elderly people who don’t have relatives to support.  

“To Baljuvon, we have sent 12 boxes of warm clothes,” Ms. Kholmurodova said.  

Head of the Sarikhosor Jamoat, Aziza Ashurova has expressed gratitude for the aid and said that large cracks appeared in the walls of practically all houses in Sarikhosor.  According to her, people are afraid to stay in the affected houses but they, however, cannot leave them because of cold weather.