Quake in Tajikistan destroys over 1,000 homes, schools, hospitals.

3/1 Tass 26

DUSHANBE, January 3 (Itar-Tass) - Authorities in the Vanchsky
district, located in the Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan, are calculating
losses from an earthquake with force 5.1, that struck on January 2.

According to rough estimates, the quake inflicted damage worth of over
1.5 million US dollars, Itar-Tass learnt on Sunday by phone from spokesman
of the district administration Atobek Subadorov.
"There is now definite information on 1,050 destroyed village homes as
well as a district polyclinic, two general secondary schools and several
administration buildings, which are not fit for restoration. However, data
are constantly changing," the spokesman noted.
According to data of a specially established commission, which is also
engaged in accommodation of people left without shelter, electricity was
cut from several villages, and there is no telephone communication. The
delivery of fuel and foodstuffs to the quake-stricken area is exacerbated
by mud and stone streams on the main highway, connecting the Vanchsky
district with the city of Khorog, the centre of the Tajik Pamir Mountains,
and the Tajik capital Dushanbe.
-0-bur/usn