KABUL: As many as 100 people killed by avalanches triggered by heavy snow in mountainous areas of Panjshir province, officials said on Wednesday.
Rescuers were battling to save dozens more trapped in the snow.
Almost all of the victims were in Panjshir province, approximately 150km north of the capital Kabul, acting governor Abdul Rahman Kabiri told media.
The avalanches came after two days of heavy snow destroyed more than 100 homes in the province and blocked main roads, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the stricken villages
One hundred have been killed in Panjshir province, while a further 11 people lost their lives in the provinces of Bamyan, Badghis, Nangarhar and Laghman, officials said.
Abdul Rahman Kalantari, head of disaster response at the Afghan Red Crescent Society, confirmed the heavy death toll and said they had already dispatched health teams to Panjshir.
President Ashraf Ghani in a statement expressed his sorrow at the deaths and said he had ordered Afghan authorities to provide urgent assistance to those affected.
Rescuers were battling to save dozens more trapped in the snow.
Almost all of the victims were in Panjshir province, approximately 150km north of the capital Kabul, acting governor Abdul Rahman Kabiri told media.
The avalanches came after two days of heavy snow destroyed more than 100 homes in the province and blocked main roads, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the stricken villages
One hundred have been killed in Panjshir province, while a further 11 people lost their lives in the provinces of Bamyan, Badghis, Nangarhar and Laghman, officials said.
Abdul Rahman Kalantari, head of disaster response at the Afghan Red Crescent Society, confirmed the heavy death toll and said they had already dispatched health teams to Panjshir.
President Ashraf Ghani in a statement expressed his sorrow at the deaths and said he had ordered Afghan authorities to provide urgent assistance to those affected.
