Republic of Tajikistan

Country Report
1999

Col. Bahrom Mamadaliev, Head,Department for Population and Territories Protection
Committee for Emergencies and Civil Defense of Tajikistan.

Republic of Tajikistan is prone to almost every kind of natural disasters, accidents and catastrophes. 93% of country’s area are mountains, which
widely vary in height from several hundred meters to 6000-7000 meters above sea level.
Some of the major natural disasters, which happened on the territory of Tajikistan in the past are:21.10 and 27.10 of 1907 - Karategin earthquake, M=7.4 and 7.0 points by Richter’s scale, took lives of 12,000 people.
Khait earthquake in 1949, 10 points by 12 point Richter’s scale in the epicenter and M=7.5 points east from Garm. 28,000 casualties.
Sarez earthquake in 1911. Rock fall wiped off village Usoi having created a lake, which contains 17,5 cubic kilometers of water at present and is ahazard for 5 millions of people of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.
January 1977 - Isfara earthquake, epicenter 10 kilometers south-east from Isfara town, M=6.0 points.
1985 - Kairakum earthquake, M=6.3 points, 8-9 points in the epicenter.
1984 - Djirgital earthquake, M=5.7, 7-8 points in the epicenter.
January 1989 – Hissar earthquake. 389 casualties in villages Okkuli Bolo, Okkuli Poen and Sharora.
April 1969 – Mountain torrent flooded part of Yaldamich village and took lives of 68 people.
1969 – Baljuvon rock fall took lives of 480 people.
1998 was featured by anomalous weather conditions. Precipitation was 2-4 times more average yearly norm. 164 natural disaster cases wereregistered, comprising 9 earthquakes, 22 floods, 97 mountain torrents and avalanches, 25 landslides. 134 people were killed. Only the direct damage
is estimated at 60 millions US dollars.
The biggest disaster took place in village Navdi of Garm Area on 27 April 1998. During mountain torrent 57 people were killed and 150 households
totally destroyed.
Resulting from flood of Yahsu river in Vose district 377 households were destroyed. In 1998 total of 6908 households suffered during natural
disasters, 1626 of them were destroyed totally. Aid provided by various international organizations in liquidation of disaster consequences totaled to 7
million US dollars. However taking into account financial situation in the country available funds are insufficient for full elimination of theconsequences. Given present situation in the country there is a great risk of complications during possible earthquakes linked to the series ofearthquakes, which took place in Afghanistan in 1998.
Disaster reduction and mitigation is regulated by the Law of Republic of Tajikistan on Civil Defense. Coordination role is played by the Ministry for
Emergencies and Civil Defense a Government of Tajikistan.
Tajikistan experiences great difficulties resulting from collapse of Soviet Union, recent civil war and economic decline in the country. Increased
impact of natural disasters is due to population poverty, insufficient funding and lack of necessary equipment. Therefore country’s leadership
understands the importance and is paying special attention to coordination and cooperation in disaster reduction endeavors of Asian countries, mostof which have similar problems in coexistence with the Nature, in the framework of ADRC.
I am confident that experience sharing and mutual assistance will considerably increase effectiveness of our work, contributing to the well being andsecure life of our people.