Flood threatens southern Tajikistan

Unusual high temperature thawed glacier and snow in the mountainous area in southern Tajikistan, causing flood in the area, reports reaching said.

Some 7,000 people in the southern flood area have been evacuated to safe places, officials said.

The temperature have stood at 42 degree Celsius in the southern areas for some time. Thawing snow has poured into the Pyandzh River and raised the water level by some two meters, officials said. At some reaches, floodwater broke the dyke and flooded farms nearby.

Prime Minister of Tajikistan Akil Akilov has rushed to the flood area to direct the relief work, which is still underway.

The Pyandzh River, whose water is mainly used for irrigation, lies on the border of Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It has a drainage area of 114,000 square kilometers.

Source: Xinhua