Tajikistan authorities have denied reports of casualties in the incident at the Rogun HPP

Tajikistan Authorities Deny Reports of Casualties in Rogun HPP Incident

The authorities of Tajikistan commented on the incident in a tunnel of the Rogun HPP under construction, where, according to media reports, more than five workers were injured. The Service for State Supervision of Safe Work in Industry and Mining reported that the incident was caused by the rupture of a industrial water tank. The agency also denied reports of casualties, emphasizing that none of the workers sustained physical injuries.

According to the service, the incident occurred on October 21 at around 16:15 during grouting work in the fourth-tier construction tunnel, section "B".

At the time of the incident, employees of the subcontractor company Sino Hydro were inside the tunnel. After the upper tank ruptured, the lower drainage tank was also damaged. As a result, water from both containers simultaneously rushed into the lower part of the tunnel where the construction workers were working.

The agency stated that none of the workers in the tunnel suffered physical injuries. Following the incident, the employees were examined by medical personnel, after which they returned to work.

Earlier, Radio Ozodi, citing its own sources, reported that more than five HPP workers were injured as a result of the incident.

A working group has been established to determine the causes of the incident and to prevent similar occurrences. Specialists are examining the technical condition of the water collection tanks, the reliability of the anchor mountings, and compliance with safety requirements at the construction site.

Safety issues at the Rogun HPP construction site have been raised in previous years as well. Thus, in November 2024, an accident occurred at the construction site, resulting in the deaths of three workers, while another person was injured.

In 2025, discussions regarding construction safety continued. An employee of an Iranian company participating in the project claimed that low-quality materials might have been used. Another worker, on the contrary, noted that international financial organizations inspect the quality of work daily.

In the same year, Tajikistan authorities reported eight accidents at the Rogun HPP, without disclosing the number of injured and deceased.