Fatal landsides affect mountainous Central Asia every year, mostly around springtime, blocking off roads in a region lacking transport infrastructure and forcing families to rebuild homes from scratch.

"There has been torrential rain in the north of Tajikistan and a fatal mudslide occurred," the emergencies committee said in a statement.

It said flows of earth on Monday swept through the northern Sogd region, trapping people tending to livestock.

"During search operations rescuers removed the bodies of eight shepherds from under the mud masses. The search for two more continues," the emergency services said.

The bodies of two women were also recovered from debris in a village in the region, where mudflows destroyed several homes, it added.

The emergency services said the landslide in the northern region rendered rural roads impassable, pulled down power lines and destroyed dozens of houses and agricultural land.