/ 26 April 2004

Landslide kills 33 in Kyrgyzstan

A landslide in southern Kyrgyzstan has killed 33 people, Russian news agencies reported on Monday, citing emergency officials in the mountainous Central Asian country.

Twelve people have been hospitalised as a result of the slide near the village of Budalyk, the Interfax news agency reported.

The lanslide covered a dozen houses, completely destroying six of them, emergency ministry officials told Interfax.

Landslides and avalanches are common in this former Soviet republic that is mostly covered by mountains and features several 7 000m peaks.

Fatalities are also relatively common due to the unsuitable location and flimsy construction of many homes.

In mid-April, five children were killed in another slide in southern Kyrgyzstan. — Sapa-AFP