Death toll rises to 28 in Afghan avalanche
KABUL, Feb 09 - At least 28 people have died and more than 70 were injured after vehicles were trapped overnight by avalanches in a mountain tunnel in Afghanistan, the Afghan Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.
The avalanches, after days of heavy snow, blocked the entrances to the 2.6 km (1.6 mile) long Salang tunnel, the main route connecting Kabul to north Afghanistan through a treacherous pass at 3,400 metres (11,000 feet) in the Hindu Kush mountains.
The avalanches took place Monday following heavy snows in the Salang Pass that links the Afghan capital with the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif and rescuers worked through the night to save more than 200 people, said Gen. Abdul Rahman Sayedkhail, Parwan provincial police chief. He said 54 people were injured.
"It's very heavy snow. We're cleaning the roads. So far, we have found 15 bodies, including women and children, he said.
"There's still danger from avalanches there so that's why our work is a little slow," Rahman said.
About 100 Afghan soldiers were mobilized to join police and others in the rescue efforts, along with four helicopters, several ambulances and several bulldozers, Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi said.
"Unfortunately there were more avalanches this morning which made our work a little difficult, but we are trying to rescue people," he said.
Military helicopters were dropping food packages to people stuck on snow-blocked roads, Interior Ministry spokesman Zemerai Bashary said.
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