Torrential Rains, Mudflows Leave Four Dead and Widespread Damage in Tajikistan

Flooding and slope failures hit multiple regions, washing out roads, damaging farms and dozens of homes

Heavy downpours and accompanying mudflows over the past few days have killed four people across Tajikistan and wrecked dozens of houses, officials said, as emergency crews raced to restore roads and clear farmland choked with debris.

Three of the fatalities occurred after an overnight storm inundated the southern city of Kulob, where three more people were taken to hospital with injuries, the presidential press office reported. President Emomali Rahmon offered condolences and ordered senior officials to visit the area to coordinate relief for affected households.

In a separate incident on Sunday afternoon, a lightning strike in the village of Kaduchi left one person dead and two others seriously hurt; the wounded were transported to a hospital in Tursunzoda, according to the country’s Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense. Local authorities said rescue teams remain on alert for further emergencies as rain continues in parts of the country.

Rescuers also responded to an overturned boat on the Syr Darya River near Khujand. Seven secondary-school students and their teacher, returning from a school outing to a riverside park, were pulled from the water by boat operators and bystanders and taken to safety, officials said.

Mudflows that swept down slopes filled irrigation channels with stones and gravel and pushed water into streets, causing power outages and cutting access to several communities. Heavy equipment and pumps were deployed to remove sludge and restore vital links; local leaders warned more clear-up work will be needed to reopen some roads and tend damaged fields.

Tajikistan’s steep terrain makes it prone to flash flooding and slope failure, and experts say intense short bursts of rain are becoming more common. A regional hydrologist who spoke with this reporter noted that saturated soils plus blocked waterways raise the likelihood of debris flows, and urged quicker investment in early warnings, slope stabilization and routine channel maintenance to reduce future losses.