KULOB, December 30, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Damage caused by fires registered in Khatlon’s Kulob zone this year has been estimated at 539,499 somoni, according to the Kulob firefighting service.

98 fires have been registered in the area this year; 78 of them occurred in households and five other occurred in trade centers.

“This year, cases of arsons have been registered in the region for the first time,” the source at Kulob firefighting service said.

According to him, 439 persons have been fined a total of 37,215 somoni for violating fire safety requirements.