DUSHANBE, July 18, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Water levels have declined in the rivers and floods do not threaten the country this year, Khaibullo Latipov, the head of the Committee for Emergency Situations (CES), announced at a press conference in Dushanbe on July 18.  

“Although there were heavy snowfalls during the winter months, the dry spring has led to a decline in water levels in rivers,” said the CES head, “We monitor the water levels in the rivers every day and we have not yet seen any threat of natural disaster.”   

It is to be noted Tajikistan is prone to frequent natural disasters because of its terrain and climate. Floods are particularly severe disaster risks because of the mountainous nature of the country.  

According to CES, 75 natural disasters that have occurred in Tajikistan over the first six months of the year have left 16 dead.  

1,807 residential buildings have been affected by those disasters; 106 of them have been destroyed completely. 

Damage caused by disasters to Tajikistan over the report period have been estimated at 78.76 million somonis, which is 32.6287 million somonis more than in the same period of last year.      

10,308,023 somonis have been allocated this year, following CES’ applications, to rehabilitee and construct river bank protection works along the rivers .