The 12-year-old died Sunday after being carried several kilometers (miles) by the raging floods, which struck the southeast of the Central Asian country, including the capital Dushanbe.

The ministry said the 12-year-old was a boy, but the interior ministry said the victim was a girl.

Around 200 houses were affected by the mudslides -- many left without electricity -- and around 500 domesticated animals were killed, it said, adding that damages could reach one million dollars (930,000 euros).

Workers with the emergencies ministry were due to work around the clock in Dushanbe to clean up the mud-covered main roads, as officials warned that possibility of further flash floods and mudslides remained high.

ITAR-TASS news agency reported that several people went missing.

Tajik scientists have said they believe that the US-led war in Iraq could trigger severe weather changes in the region.

SPACE.WIRE