Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Current Situation in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region

This message is to update U.S. citizens on the consequences of the natural disaster and State of Emergency in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), including the city of Khorog.

The United States Embassy has received reports of additional mudslides in the area of Murgab on August 5, 2015, and the risk of mudslides through the month of August remains significant due to high mountain temperatures and glacier melting.  Nonetheless, the situation looks improved by comparison with the second half of July.  The M41 Pamir Highway is open, commercial flights to and from Khorog have been restored, and the earthen dam on the Gund River created by the first July 16 mudslides appears to be stable.

The United States Embassy in Dushanbe continues to urge U.S. citizens to cancel or postpone non-essential travel to Khorog and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, but does not feel it is necessary to recommend those citizens already in the region evacuate.  Travel to the region of official U.S. government personnel remains restricted, being approved only on a case-by-case basis.

For further information:

  • See Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Tajikistan.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Contact the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan located at 109 A Ismoili Somoni Avenue,at 992-37-229-2300, Mon, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and Tue – Fri, 2 – 4 p.m.  After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is 992-98-580-1032 or 992-37-229-2000.
  • Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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