Tajikistan battles rising wildfires amid heatwaves

Over 430 hectares of forest scorched as officials cite climate change, public negligence, and lack of roads in wildfire response challenges.

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (MNTV) — Tajikistan has seen a sharp rise in wildfires this year, with more than 434 hectares of forest land burned across nine regions, according to the country’s Forestry Agency. Officials attribute the increase to abnormal heatwaves, human negligence, and limited access to remote forested areas.

Asia Plus reported that forestry officials disclosed the figures at a press conference in Dushanbe, where they acknowledged the scale of devastation was significantly greater than in previous years. Of the land affected, nearly 146 hectares lie outside the agency’s formal jurisdiction.

“All fire outbreaks have been brought under control, and our specialists are assessing the overall damage,” said Bakhtiyor Obloyorzoda, head of the agency’s forestry department.

He noted that most fires occurred in July and were officially extinguished within one to two days — though locals on social media claimed some blazes raged for up to four days.

The fires have once again exposed the vulnerabilities in Tajikistan’s fire management system. Deputy Director Davlatali Sharifzoda emphasized the role of climate change in intensifying fire risks and pointed to the lack of infrastructure as a major obstacle in mounting rapid responses.

“There are no roads to some areas, fire-fighting equipment can’t reach them, and our technical resources are underdeveloped,” Sharifzoda said.

Despite these limitations, officials praised the swift involvement of local residents, crediting community cooperation for helping contain the flames in several locations.

Tajikistan’s wildfire season runs from April 15 to November 15 — a period when dry weather, rising temperatures, and human activity combine to increase the risk of forest fires. Authorities have urged all institutions operating on or near forest land to strictly follow fire safety regulations as outlined in the national Forestry Code.

The crisis highlights broader concerns about climate vulnerability in Central Asia, where rising temperatures and under-resourced emergency services are leaving remote regions increasingly exposed to environmental disasters.

Published by – https://www.muslimnetwork.tv/tajikistan-battles-rising-wildfires-amid-heatwaves/