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Avalanches kill over 100 people in Afghanistan

Heavy snow in parts of Afghanistan has triggered avalanches, burying entire villages and killing ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

20.01 5 Feb 2017


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Avalanches kill over 100 peopl...

Avalanches kill over 100 people in Afghanistan

Newstalk
Newstalk

20.01 5 Feb 2017


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Heavy snow in parts of Afghanistan has triggered avalanches, burying entire villages and killing more than 100 people.

Most of the deaths occurred in the isolated Nuristan province, where at least 50 people were killed when an entire village was buried under snow.

At least 54 others were killed following avalanches over the last three days in the north and east of the country.

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In the northeastern province of Badakhshan, at least 18 people were killed, including two children, when their homes were struck by a snowslide during the night. 

A spokesperson for the province, Naweed Frotan said "Several dozens are still trapped. We are trying to rescue them."

Officials said homes have been destroyed, major roads blocked and scores of animals killed by freezing weather in districts which have been completely cut off.

In the north, rescuers are struggling to reach up to 70 trapped residents in the Balkhab district of Sari Pul province, where the heavy snow has blocked roads leading to the neighbourhood.

Meanwhile in Pakistan, at least 13 people have been killed after the northern district of Chitral was hit by a deluge of snow on Saturday.

Nine people, including four children, were killed in the village of Shershal in the region - which has experienced up to 4ft of snowfall.

As many as 14 people are still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed houses, with the bad weather affecting rescue efforts. 


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