Afghanistan - Salang tunnel disaster

Death toll from avalanches hits 166

Article published on the 2010-02-10 Latest update 2010-02-10 13:24 TU

Rescuers head for the Salang tunnel as a car lies abandoned in the snow
(Photo: Reuters)

Rescuers have recovered 166 bodies from the Salang pass, which links Afghanistan to central Asia, after several avalanches buried hundreds of vehicles, trapping people inside. Officials say that 1,500 people have been rescued, with another 80 dug out of the snow on Wednesday.

Health officials say that 135 people have been injured in the avalanches caused by blizzards in the harsh Afghan winter.

Cars and buses have been swept off the road and are lying deep below on the valley floor. At least 14 survivors were trapped in a bus, according to Parwan province Governor Abdul Basir Salangi.

"It is a miracle that they survived buried under the snow for 37 hours," he said, adding that snow had entered the bus through broken windows.

Soldiers have arrived to help the rescue effort, which is using heavy digging machinery and bulldozers.

Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar fended off questions about why the road was open in the first place, insisting the situation appeared manageable until the storm struck.

"All of a sudden, a storm hit the area which resulted in a number of avalanches hitting the main highway and closing the road for up to 3.5 kilometres," Atmar told a news conference.