KHOROG, May 23, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Heavy rainfalls and resulting mudflows that hit Gorno Badakhshan in April-May this year have caused serious damage to the region’s economy, the GBAO emergencies official Davlat Abdurahmonov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

“According to the preliminary estimates, torrential rain has damaged 68 residential buildings, 30 schools, 12 medical and six cultural facilities as well as one communications site in the region, “ said Abdurahmonov, “Besides mudslides have damaged some 27 kilometers of irrigation canals and water pipelines as well as 108 kilometers of roads and three bridges.”

Heavy rainfalls have also demolished 40.3 hectares of gardens and vineyards and 45 hectares of agricultural fields and 277 head of cattle have been killed by disasters, the emergencies official noted.

According to him, damage caused to Gorno Badakhshan’s economy by torrential rains and mudslides has been estimated at 2.5 million somoni.