DUSHANBE/KULOB, May 7, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- A Kulob mudflow death toll has risen to seven and among those killed by disaster are mainly children, the deputy Kulob prosecutor, Ozar Ishoyev, told Asia-Plus Friday afternoon.

In the meantime, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports that at least 20 people have been killed by mudflows, while the Committee for Emergency Situations reports about only three victims.

The source at a CES told Asia-Plus today afternoon that mudflows have damaged more than 600 households.

“The disaster occurred today early in the morning, at about 1:40, as the Tebalay River overflowed its banks” said the source, “The mudflow that carried thousands cubic meters of slurry and broken trees with it was so powerful that people even did not have time to leave their houses.  Ten people, mainly women and children, have been reported missing.”

Rescue teams form CES as well as servicemen from the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the regiment of Russian military base 201 deployed in Kulob are working in the disaster area, evacuating people and mitigating effects of the disaster.  “We are currently taking efforts to bring the river back to its bed,” the source said.

Today afternoon, a powerful mudflow seriously damaged a school building in the Dahana village, some 18 kilometers of Kulob.  Fortunately, all school students were evacuated.

Government structures and international organizations are continuing to provide assistance to the disaster-hit population.

In the meantime, President Rahmon has departed for Kulob to familiarize himself with the volumes of damage caused to the region.  Head of ministries and department are accompanying the president on this trip.