Country Report on Natural/Other Disasters.
Republic of Tajikistan

Prepared by: Col. Bahrom Mamadaliev, Head,
Department for Population and Territories Protection
Committee for Emergencies and Civil Defense at Government of Tajikistan.

Republic of Tajikistan is prone to almost every kind of natural disasters, accidents and catastrophes. 93% of countryʼsarea 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 Richterʼs scale, took lives of 12,000 people.
Khait earthquake in 1949, 10 points by 12 point Richterʼs 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 ofwater at present and is a hazard 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 were registered, comprising 9 earthquakes, 22 ﬂoods, 97 mountain torrents and avalanches, 25landslides. 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 werekilled 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 internationalorganizations in liquidation of disaster consequences totaled to 7 million US dollars. However taking into accountﬁnancial situation in the country available funds are insuﬃcient for full elimination of the consequences. 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 are regulated by the Law of Republic of Tajikistan on Civil Defense. Coordination roleis played by the Committee for Emergencies and Civil Defense at 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 ofnecessary equipment. Therefore countryʼs leadership understands the importance and is paying special attention tocoordination and cooperation in disaster reduction endeavors of Asian countries, most of which have similar problems incoexistence 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 and secure life of our people.