The collapse of mud houses in remote mountainous Daikundi province caused deaths, six from single familyHeavy snow and avalanches claimed at least 15 lives, including six people of a single family in Afghanistan, an official confirmed on Thursday.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Assadullah Sarwari, regional head of the Afghanistan Disasters Management Authority in central Daikundi province said, avalanches have caused death and destruction in the past 24 hours.
He confirmed the death of 15 people, including six members of a single-family. "Among the victims included two pregnant women who died because of their inability to reach to hospital for the delivery", he said.
Most of the internal roads and main highways connecting Daikundi province to other parts of the country have been blocked due to the heavy snow, the local Salam Afghanistan radio reported.Separately, the main Salang Highway connecting the Afghan capital Kabul with the rest of the northern provinces has been blocked for security reasons for the next 24 hours amid heavy snowfall.Dozens of casualties -- most of them caused by mud houses collapsing in remote parts of the mountainous country -- were reported from different parts of the country last month due to harsh winter.
The country's National Meteorological Department has warned of heavy snowfall and flash floods in 19 out of 34 provinces this week.
Comment: Update: News18
reports on Feb 14th:
At least 21 people were killed after a series of avalanches struck a central province in Afghanistan, authorities said Friday.
According to Ahmad Tameem Azimi, spokesman of the ministry for disaster management, seven people remain missing following the avalanches in central Daykundi province on Thursday. Ten people have been injured.
The 21 killed were all from two families in the area, Azimi said. At least 50 houses were destroyed. Azimi added that search and rescue teams have been working since Thursday to find the missing and help the victims.
He said the number of dead was expected to climb with cold weather and difficult conditions hampering rescue efforts. Most highways have been closed for weeks, due to heavy snowfall and fears of avalanches.
This winter in Afghanistan has been harsh, with heavy snowfall, avalanches and flash flooding. Thursday's deaths bring the death toll from avalanches and flash floods in the country in the past two months to 72.
Scores have also been injured and 2,400 houses have been swept away in flash floods since the start of winter. Afghanistan has suffered through more than four decades of war and conflict since the Soviet invasion in 1979.
But natural disasters such as landslides, floods and avalanches have also taken a heavy toll on a country with little infrastructure or development outside of its major cities. Environmental degradation has also worsened the problems.
Comment: Update: News18 reports on Feb 14th: