DUSHANBE, December 27, Asia-Plus  -- Wednesday’s fire has destroyed a head building of Tajik Medical University, stiutted in the center of Dushanbe, completely, however, the University’s library and archives have been salvaged. 

Colonel Haidar Mahmadiyev, chief of the Interior Ministry staff, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the fire that broke out at around 1:30 p.m. lasted till late into the night.    

13 firefighting crews of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) main firefighting directorate as well as fire engines and water-carrying vehicles of Russian military base and the committee for emergency situations were involved in extinguishing the fire.  Despite all efforts of firefighters, the fire destroyed a total space of more than 9,000 square meters. 

According to the preliminary data, damage caused by the fire amounts to hundreds of thousands of somonis.    

According to the MoI, a special commission has been set up to investigate the cause of the fire. 

According to unofficial sources, electrical malfunction my have caused the fire, which was first reports about 1:33 p.m.  The fire probably brought out on the third floor and then spread rapidly through the building.  

All three floors of the building were completely enveloped in flames and the building that was constructed in 1939 practically burned down.  No injured was reported, according to the source

A part of the building housed the university’s library and archives.  Fortunately, they managed to salvage the library and archives.

According to unofficial sources, it is planned to open a bank account for donations for constructing a new building of Tajik Medical University.