Earthquake update

Over 470 houses, about 30 schools and 30 medical facilities were damaged by the powerful earthquake that struck Tajikistan and the rest of the region on Sunday, 3 March, according to information received by IRIN on Thursday from the Tajik Emergency Situations Ministry (ESM) and the Tajik Red Crescent Society. The mountainous Badakhshoni Kuhi Autonomous Region in the east and southwestern Khatlon Region suffered most from the earthquake. In the east, the earthquake damaged 50 houses (20 completely ruined), 18 schools and 6 km of power and communication lines in Ishkoshim District. A further 65 houses were damaged in Rushon District. The ESM said 79 houses, a school and a hospital in Qumsangir District in southwestern Tajikistan were all destroyed. The ESM has received reports about damage in Khojamaston in southern Tajikistan and Roghun District in central Tajikistan as well. Despite the extensive damage, few injuries and no deaths had been reported to authorities by Thursday. In neighbouring Afghanistan there was widespread devastation with more than a hundred people confirmed dead. In the Tajik capital Dushanbe, 15 residential buildings were destroyed and the buildings of the Ayni opera and ballet theatre, Lohuti drama theatre and the Firdowsi national library were partly damaged. Cracks have appeared in the walls and ceilings of many buildings in the capital since Sunday. Local administrators are providing those affected with the necessary aid, the ministry said.