Reports from Tajik media challenge officials’ account of a flood in a Rogun Dam tunnel: authorities say no one was injured, while Radio Ozodi, citing witnesses, says more than five workers were hurt.
Tajikistan’s industrial-safety service said the accident happened at about 4:15 p.m. on October 21 during sealing work in a construction tunnel. It said a tank holding technical water burst and damaged a lower drainage tank. Water from both tanks then rushed into the lower part of the tunnel, where employees of subcontractor Sino Hydro were working, according to the official account.
The service said no workers suffered physical injuries. It said the workers received first aid and returned to work. Radio Ozodi published footage of the incident on October 27.
It cited witnesses who said the incident happened a day later than officials said, on October 22. The witnesses said more than five workers were injured, and some were trapped beneath rubble. An unnamed Rogun employee told Ozodi the accident was not related to construction quality.
The employee did not confirm or deny reports of injuries. Authorities formed a working group to inspect the tanks and the fastenings that hold them in place. The group will also check whether workplace-safety rules were followed.
The reports do not resolve how many workers were injured. Officials deny that anyone suffered physical harm, while witness-based reporting disputes their account.