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Afghan avalanche death toll increases

2010-02-11 13:05 BJT

 

The death toll from a series of avalanches in northern Afghanistan has soared to 166. International forces have also joined the rescue operation. So far, more than 2 thousand people have been saved.

Soldiers, police and locals dug through snow for survivors, bodies, and vehicles.

More people were saved on Wednesday, after two days of desperate waiting at the Salang pass.

The pass is a key road connecting Kabul to Afghanistan's northern region. When the avalanches took place on Monday, thousands were trapped.

Afghan soldiers arrive to search for avalanche victims in Salang Pass, some 115 kilometers (71 miles) north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Afghan soldiers arrive to search for avalanche victims in Salang
Pass, some 115 kilometers (71 miles) north of Kabul, Afghanistan,
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)