As a result of an avalanche in Khorog, 10 people died

Dozens were also injured.

Photo: Internet

The Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of Tajikistan reported that on February 15 at approximately 10 a.m., avalanches occurred in the city of Khorog. As a result, about 10 residential houses and the building of the Afghan consulate in Khorog were buried under the snow. It was reported that the bodies of 10 deceased individuals were retrieved from under the snow mass.

It was also reported that a minibus with 10 passengers on board, traveling from Khorog towards the village of Tusyon on the Khorog-Roshtqala highway, was caught in an avalanche at the 8th kilometer of this road, overturned into a five-meter ravine, and fell onto the bank of the Shokhdara River.

“Upon arrival at the scene, rescuers found that all passengers were alive but had sustained various injuries. They extracted the injured from the vehicle and transported them to the central hospital of Khorog,” the committee’s statement noted.

It was also reported that “on February 15, 2023, at approximately 10 a.m., avalanches occurred in the city of Khorog. As a result of the avalanches, several residential houses were damaged. Rescuers from the committee’s emergency management department for GBAO are working at the scene, along with forces and resources from the unified state system for emergency response in GBAO.”

A video has circulated on social media showing rescuers freeing a girl trapped in the avalanche and providing her with first aid, performing artificial respiration, and saving her.

The Pamir Daily News portal, which mainly publishes news from GBAO, also released a video showing rescuers rescuing a 4-5-year-old child alive from under the avalanche and handing them over to medical personnel.

Snow and rain in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region fall significantly more than in other regions of the country. Often, heavy rains, snowfalls, and avalanches during the autumn-winter period cause significant damage to residents.