DUSHANBE, July 5, 2016, Asia-Plus – An earthquake that hit the Rasht district last Friday has completely destroyed fifteen homes in Hijborak and Aksalon jamoats and partially damaged 30 other homes, according to the Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CES) under the Government of Tajikistan.

An official source at the CES says the quake victims have been provided with temporary dwellings, medical service and foods.    

We will recall that Tajikistan''s Geophysical Service said the 5.0-6.0 magnitude earthquake struck in the Rasht district, 174 kilometers northeast of Dushanbe and 15 kilometers southeast of Gharm, administrative center of the Rasht district, on July 1 at 7:58 pm.

The tremor measuring 4.0 on a 12-point scale could be felt in Gharm and tremor measuring 2.0 on a 12-point scale could be felt in Dushanbe.

A government commission has been set up to assess an actual damage caused by the quake.  The commission comprising senior representatives of the CES and the Committee for Construction and Architecture and led by Deputy Prime Minister Muhammadtohir Zokirzoda, is currently working in Rasht to carry out a full assessment of the damage.  

The mountainous Tajikistan is prone to regular natural disasters, including landslides and earthquakes.

We will recall that a stronger quake hit southern Kyrgyzstan last week.  Quoting Kyrgyzstan’s emergency situations ministry, the Associated Press reported the earthquake that struck at 5:17 p.m. on June 26 had a magnitude of 6.7 at its center and registered a magnitude of 4 in Osh, the nearest city.

The U.S. Geological Survey gave a preliminary magnitude of 6.3.  The U.S. agency said the epicenter of the June 26 quake was 122 kilometers south of Osh and 27 kilometers south of Sary-Tash, a small town on the south side of the Alay Mountains, just north of Tajikistan.

Meanwhile, the Geological Control Committee at Kazakhstan''s Education Ministry a tremor measuring 5.3 hit the area near the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan on June 27.