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Afghan Avalanche Death Toll Hits 157

Rescue crews work to free the hundreds still trapped

By the Associated Press

Posted Feb 10, 2010 6:18 AM CST
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(AP) – The death toll from massive avalanches that blocked a mountain pass north of Kabul soared to 157, as hundreds more remained trapped in their snowbound vehicles, Afghan officials said today. Rescuers have recovered 157 bodies from the Salang Pass, a key road that connects the Afghan capital with the north, over the past two days, according to the Interior Ministry. The number of dead has more than doubled from the 64 reported yesterday, as rescue teams scrambled to reach survivors.

About 2,600 people have been successfully rescued so far, and 1.5 miles of road have been cleared for ambulances, bulldozers and other road-clearing equipment. Some 400 police, along with 100 local volunteers, have been involved in the frantic effort to dig out survivors in the last 24 hours. Rescuers reached dozens more of the stranded this morning, including seven children whose mother had died.

Members of the Afghan army carry the dead body of an avalanche victim at Salang Pass, some 115 kilometers (71 miles) north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010.
Members of the Afghan army carry the dead body of an avalanche victim at Salang Pass, some 115 kilometers (71 miles) north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Members of Afghan army try to remove snow from an overturned vehicle buried under snow at Salang Pass, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010.
Members of Afghan army try to remove snow from an overturned vehicle buried under snow at Salang Pass, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Members of Afghan army try to remove snow from an overturned vehicle buried under snow at Salang Pass, Afghanistan, Wednesday.
Members of Afghan army try to remove snow from an overturned vehicle buried under snow at Salang Pass, Afghanistan, Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Members of the Afghan army search for survivors inside an overturned passenger vehicle buried under snow at Salang Pass, Wednesday.
Members of the Afghan army search for survivors inside an overturned passenger vehicle buried under snow at Salang Pass, Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Members of Afghan army try to open the door of an overturned vehicle buried under snow at Salang Pass, Wednesday.
Members of Afghan army try to open the door of an overturned vehicle buried under snow at Salang Pass, Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Members of the Afghan army carry the dead body of an avalanche victim at Salang Pass, Afghanistan, Wednesday.
Members of the Afghan army carry the dead body of an avalanche victim at Salang Pass, Afghanistan, Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
finkster
Feb 11, 2010 1:25 AM CST
This is so sad and reminds the rest of us how precious life is on planet Earth.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Afghanistan • Kabul • death toll • avalanche • mass strandings • search and rescue • Salang Pass

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