Heavy rains have caused mudslides that have killed at least seven people in Tajikistan.

The Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan reported yesterday evening that torrential rain on May 11 caused a series of mudslides yesterday afternoon that caused human casualties in the Kulob area of the Khatlon province and in the Hisor district.  

The Emergencies Committee says that according to the preliminary data, three persons were killed by mudslides in the city of Kulob and three others were killed by mudslides in the Shmasiddin-Shohin district.

Besides, one more person was killed by mudslide in the Hisor district.

The mudslide reportedly also destroyed several dilapidated buildings and damaged roads. 

A special government commission has been set up to assess the actual damage caused by the floods and mudslides to the country’s economy, Umeda Yusufi, a spokeswoman for the Emergencies Committee, said.

According to her, the commission is led by Prime Minister Qohir Rasouzloda and its members include senior representatives of the Interior Ministry, the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), the Emergencies Committee and some other relevant ministries and agencies.  

Recall, devastating floods that took place in the Kulob area of the southern province of Khatlon in May 2010 killed many 20 people.

As a result of strong rain, the Tebalay River on May 7, 2010 breeched its banks overnight in Kulob, leaving many people unable to reach higher ground.  Dozens of people were reportedly killed by mudslides in Kulob and in the Shouroobod (currently Shamsiddin-Shohin) district.  Many of the bridges in Kulob were damaged or destroyed and people living in some parts of the city suffered severe damage to their homes.  According to official figures, more than 1,500 houses, several schools, and offices were completely destroyed or partially damaged in Kulob and surrounding villages.  Flood waters reportedly also destroyed 12 bridges.