Mudflow triggered by high temperature and glacier melting blocks Surkhob River in eastern Tajikistan

According to the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, a small part of the glacier broke away and caused a mudflow that blocked the Tugat River, which, in its turn, flooded a section of the highway Vahdat Township and Lakhsh District and partially blocked the Surkhob River.  

To remove the disaster effects, employees of the Lakhsh emergency management agency jointly with workers overseeing the maintenance of the road cleared the road of rocks and slurry and specialists are currently closely monitoring the level of water in the Surkhob River. 

No damage or injured was reported, according to the Emergencies Committee spokeswoman Umeda Yusufi.

According to the Hydrometeorology Agency (Hydromet), the dry and hot weather will remain in the country until July 31.  

High temperatures have reportedly increased the risk of glacial mudflows in mountainous areas of Sughd province, districts subordinate to the center and the western part of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). 

Tajikistan is vulnerable to natural disasters, including mudslides, flooding and avalanches, particularly in mountainous areas and it continues to be highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.