DUSHANBE , July 19, Asia-Plus - On Wednesday July 19, the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) gave a news conference on the results of work carried out by the ministry in January-June this year. 

Speaking to journalists, Deputy Emergencies Minister, Abdurrahim Rajabov, said that 27 people had been killed in natural disasters in the republic over the first six months of this year.  

According to him, a total volume of damage caused by disasters to the country has amounted to 13 million Somonis, which is 35 million Somonis fewer than last year.  

“It is connected, first of all, with reduction in number of disasters compared to the previous year,” said Tajik emergencies official, “Besides, MES has taken a number of measures to prevent disasters.” 

“Over the same six-month period, more than 3,000 residential buildings across the republic have been damaged by disasters; of them, 270 houses have been destroyed completely,” noted Mr. Rajabov, “Besides, disasters have damaged 109 schools and pre-school facilities, 32 medical facilities, as well as more than 600 kilometers of roads, more than 60 kilometers of power-transmission lines and some 10 kilometers of telecommunications lines.”

According to him, disasters have also caused serious damage to the country’s agrarian sector, destroying more than 3,400 hectares of farmland and killing more than 450 head of cattle.