DUSHANBE, May 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Disasters that hit northern Tajikistan on May 9 killed four persons, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

Three persons were killed by rockfall in the Shahriston district.  A rockfall hit the 158th kilometer of the highway from Dushanbe to Khujand.  The driver of a heavy truck KAMAZ could not control the vehicle and it fell into the river.  The driver and two his passengers died on the spot.

The same day, an avalanche killed shepherd in the Ayni district.  Anvar Narziyev was pasturing cattle at the foot of mountain when the snow avalanche hit the area, burying Anvar Narziyev, the source at a MoI said.