Death toll at 196 from Afghanistan avalanches

By Masoud Popalzai, CNN
Published 2:15 AM EST, Mon March 2, 2015
Afghan survivors of an avalanche search their destroyed houses in a village of in Panjshir province, north of Kabul on March 1. Scores of people have died in a series of avalanches in mountainous northeastern Afghanistan after heavy snowstorms.
Afghan survivors of an avalanche search their destroyed houses in a village of in Panjshir province, north of Kabul on March 1. Scores of people have died in a series of avalanches in mountainous northeastern Afghanistan after heavy snowstorms.
shah marai/afp/getty
Men carry the body of an avalanche victim after funeral prayers in Khench, Afghanistan, on Thursday, February 26.
Men carry the body of an avalanche victim after funeral prayers in Khench, Afghanistan, on Thursday, February 26.
SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images
Men make their way down a slope after searching for victims in Bazarak district on Wednesday, February 25.
Men make their way down a slope after searching for victims in Bazarak district on Wednesday, February 25.
SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images
People push a car stuck near an avalanche site in Panjshir province February 25.
People push a car stuck near an avalanche site in Panjshir province February 25.
Massoud Hossaini/AP
A teenager cleans off snow from the roof of his house in Panjshir province February 25.
A teenager cleans off snow from the roof of his house in Panjshir province February 25.
Massoud Hossaini/AP
An avalanche survivor lies in a hospital in Panjshir province February 25.
An avalanche survivor lies in a hospital in Panjshir province February 25.
Massoud Hossaini/AP
People clean snow from a road in Panjshir province February 25.
People clean snow from a road in Panjshir province February 25.
Massoud Hossaini/AP
Avalanches in Afghanistan

Story highlights

Authorities fear the toll from deadly avalanche will grow higher

Panjshir is a small, mountainous province in Afghanistan

Kabul, Afghanistan CNN  — 

For a third day in a row, heavy snowstorms caused avalanches in the Panjshir province on Thursday, bringing the total to 168, officials said.

cnni stout afghanistan avalanche_00000404.jpg
cnni stout afghanistan avalanche_00000404.jpg
Reuters
video

Deadly avalanche strikes Afghanistan

They began Tuesday, continued Wednesday and two more avalanches took place Thursday, said provincial Gov. Abdul Rahman Kabiri.

Rescue operations and emergency assistance by air and ground are still ongoing, Hakimi said.

Authorities fear the toll will grow much higher since rescue personnel are yet to reach the worst affected areas.

President Ashraf Ghani, who visited the area on Saturday, declared three days of mourning in Afghanistan for the victims.

Panjshir is a small, mountainous province north of the capital, Kabul. Its residents are generally poor, earning their living as farmers, shepherds or operators of small businesses such as groceries.

CNN’s Masoud Popalzai reported from Kabul, Afghanistan and journalist Naomi Ng wrote from Hong Kong.

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