DUSHANBE , August 2, Asia-Plus - According to preliminary data, a damage caused by the two earthquakes that struck southern Tajikistan at the weekend has amounted to more than 60 million Somonis.

First Deputy Emergencies Minister, Abdurrahim Rajabov, told journalists on August 2 following a meeting with representatives from international that it was not the final figure.  “Practically every a special commission working in the site of the earthquake reports about new damages,” Mr. Rajabov said.  

According to him, the commission has to date monitored and studied only 60 percent of the territories affected by the tremors.    

“According to the preliminary data, the quakes affected at least five settlements in the Qumsangir district and one settlement in the Kolkhozobod district,”  said Abdurrahim Rajabov “1,837 residential buildings were affected by the tremors; of them, 684 were destroyed completely.”  Besides, the quakes partially damaged or destroyed completely five educational facilities, five medical facilities, four transformers and more than two kilometers of power-transmission lines, as well as 20 administrative buildings in Qumsangir and Kolkhozobod, according to the Tajik emergency official.  

“Senior representatives from practically from all ministries of Tajikistan are currently in the site of the disaster to closely monitor the situation and provide assistance to the tremor-affected areas,” Mr. Rajabov said.  

As it had been reported earlier, the earthquakes, measuring between 5 and 5.5 on the Richter scale, struck southern Tajikistan on Saturday at 5:12 am . and 3:57 pm .  According to emergency officials, at least three people are reported dead (a 6-year-old boy, a 6-year-girl, and a 9-year-old girl), and 19 people seriously injured and some 9,000 homeless after those two earthquakes.    

  ABOUT: Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team (REACT) was established in 2001 to promote the sharing of information, logistics and other resources between partners active in the disaster management sector, including the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Government of Tajikistan .  The group that involves over 50 state, local and international organizations and entities meets regularly to coordinate and share experiences on issues related to various areas of disaster management, including preparedness, response, mitigation and capacity building activities with national bodies.  During emergency situations the partnership works closely together, coordinating response and assistance.