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Afghan avalanche toll 'may rise' Hope fades for avalanche victims
(about 9 hours later)
Officials in Afghanistan say they fear the number of people killed in an avalanche in the north-east of the country could continue to rise. Officials in Afghanistan say that they do not expect to find more survivors of avalanches which have killed at least 169 people in the country's north-east.
At least 166 people were killed by snow falling off mountains in the Salang Pass north of Kabul, triggering a massive rescue operation. Sniffer dogs and satellite imagery have pinpointed more vehicles buried deep in the deep mountain gorge where the avalanches happened, officials say.
The authorities say that they expect to find more bodies as they wind down the rescue operation. But fresh snowfall and darkened skies brought a halt to rescue efforts in the Salang Pass on Thursday.
The area has been hit by more than 12 avalanches since Monday. Officials insist the operation "is not yet finished".
The area has been hit by more than a dozen avalanches since Monday.
Correspondents say that it has been one of the country's worst natural disasters.Correspondents say that it has been one of the country's worst natural disasters.
Freezing conditions Metal detectors
"Today we have taken out three bodies - a woman and two men, bringing to 169 the total number of bodies so far, with 130 injured," Parwan province Public Health Director Mohammad Qasim Sayedi told the AFP news agency.
Scores of vehicles which could contain more bodies remain buried beneath massive snow floes, the interior ministry said.
"We're not clear yet on how many cars are still under the snow, but police have been working on recovery since yesterday [Wednesday] and are hoping to bring the operation to an end soon," ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told AFP.
Defence ministry official Ahmad Zia Aftali said that the government now planned to ask the international coalition for additional equipment, including metal detectors, to aid the search. He said they did not expect to find anyone still alive.
The ferocity of the avalanches was so great that windows of cars and buses were smashed while some tumbled into the valley below, officials say.The ferocity of the avalanches was so great that windows of cars and buses were smashed while some tumbled into the valley below, officials say.
The rescue operation is now being scaled down DEADLY AVALANCHES February 19-20 2005: At least 250 people killed in avalanches after heavy snowfall in Indian-administered KashmirJanuary 16 1995: At least 200 people killed in avalanches in Indian-administered Kashmir triggered by a snow storm and strong windsSeptember 20 2002: At least 125 people killed when the Kolka glacier collapses on the village of Nijni Karmadon in North Ossetia, RussiaMarch 24 1996: 56 people killed when avalanche hits main road between Tibet and Sichuan in ChinaFebruary 23 1999: Avalanche hits Austrian village of Galtur, killing 31 people Source: News agencies class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8507815.stm">Afghanistan's dangerous lifeline class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8508747.stm">In pictures: Afghan avalanches
Many of the dead were killed as their vehicles plunged down the mountainsides, while others perished in the freezing conditions.Many of the dead were killed as their vehicles plunged down the mountainsides, while others perished in the freezing conditions.
Rescuers are using bulldozers, pick axes and shovels in the search for survivors.Rescuers are using bulldozers, pick axes and shovels in the search for survivors.
The highway that winds through the mountainside remains littered with abandoned or snow-packed cars.The highway that winds through the mountainside remains littered with abandoned or snow-packed cars.
Interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said that scores more vehicles remain buried beneath massive snow floes and they could contain more bodies. Officials say that although the road has now been cleared, it remains closed to the public to allow for emergency efforts.
"The latest information we have is that 166 people were killed and 125 others have been rescued and taken to hospital," he told the AFP news agency. About 3,000 people have been rescued so far.
"We're not clear yet on how many cars are still under the snow, but police have been working on recovery since yesterday and are hoping to bring the operation to an end soon. The area is often affected by heavy snow and has been hit by avalanches in the past, the BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says.
DEADLY AVALANCHES February 19-20 2005: At least 250 people killed in avalanches after heavy snowfall in Indian-administered KashmirJanuary 16 1995: At least 200 people killed in avalanches in Indian-administered Kashmir triggered by a snow storm and strong windsSeptember 20 2002: At least 125 people killed when the Kolka glacier collapses on the village of Nijni Karmadon in North Ossetia, RussiaMarch 24 1996: 56 people killed when avalanche hits main road between Tibet and Sichuan in ChinaFebruary 23 1999: Avalanche hits Austrian village of Galtur, killing 31 people Source: News agencies Afghanistan's dangerous lifeline In pictures: Afghan avalanches
"There is fear there will be more dead bodies in the vehicles that are being pulled out of the snow," he said.
An army battalion backed up by heavy machinery and other digging equipment had been deployed to the pass for rescue and recovery work, a senior defence ministry official said.
He said that although the road has now been cleared, it remains closed to the public to allow for emergency efforts.
Rescuers are searching farther afield for victims in cars, trucks and buses that were pushed far off the road, officials say.
Some 2,500 people have been rescued so far.
The area is often affected by heavy snow and has been hit by avalanches in the past, the BBC's Martin Patience says from Kabul.
The road through the Salang Pass is the only major route over the Hindu Kush mountains linking southern Afghanistan to the north and Central Asia that remains open throughout the year.The road through the Salang Pass is the only major route over the Hindu Kush mountains linking southern Afghanistan to the north and Central Asia that remains open throughout the year.
Reaching 3,400m (11,000 ft) at the pass, the road is one of the highest in the world. It was finished in the 1960s with Soviet help.Reaching 3,400m (11,000 ft) at the pass, the road is one of the highest in the world. It was finished in the 1960s with Soviet help.