Avalanches in Afghanistan

As a result of avalanches in the Salang Pass in northern Afghanistan killed more than 160 people. From the zone of the accident evacuated 2,600 people. According to Afghan authorities, the tunnel remained blocked at least 300 cars. Built in the 60s by Soviet specialists Salang Tunnel is the only transport route that links the north and south of the country.

12 ph via Bigpicture

1) Total rescuers who assist the police, soldiers of the Afghan army and the forces of the international coalition has managed to free about 2,500 people caught in a snow trap in the vicinity of the Salang tunnel linking Kabul with northern Afghanistan. (S. Sabawoon / EPA)





2) In the picture - the snow-covered cars on the Salang Pass. (Musadeq Sadeq / AP)



3) arrived by helicopter Afghan soldiers run to get out of the rubble of the numerous victims of avalanches. (Musadeq Sadeq / AP)



4) The police and volunteers searching for dead bodies under the rubble. In just the past 24 hours searching attended by about 400 Afghan police officers and about a hundred volunteers from the local community. (S. Sabawoon / EPA)



5) An Afghan military helicopter takes away the dead bodies. Corpses trafficked in Parwan province in the north, as well as in Baghlan province in the south. 180 Chinook helicopter hit were taken to provide them with medical care at the base of the coalition forces Wagram. The remaining 250 victims are placed in the nearest hospital to the scene. (Musadeq Sadeq / AP)



6) Rescuers reported that among the cars caught under the rubble during the avalanche were two buses. And one of the buses found 15 dead. (Omar Sobhani / Reuters)



7) KAMAZ clears travel to the Salang tunnel. To help working on clearing the rubble 400 rescuers and the police were allocated four Chinook helicopters from the coalition forces, 500 soldiers of the Afghan army, several bulldozers and ambulances. (Musadeq Sadeq / AP)



8) The Afghan military is trying to open the door of the car, which rolled over and covered with snow due to avalanche. Most of the dead under the rubble were found frozen in their cars. Some people were killed, crushed on the road blockages. (Musadeq Sadeq / AP)



9) The avalanche was caused by heavy snowfall, which is still ongoing, and slows down the rescue, again falling asleep earlier cleared roads. Total mining around the Salang tunnel, a length of about three kilometers, descended at least 17 avalanches. (Musadeq Sadeq / AP)



10) Afghan military carried the corpse to the chopper. According to some reports, in the Salang tunnel blocked at least 300 cars. (Musadeq Sadeq / AP)



11) An Afghan soldier carries a child during an evacuation. (Altaf Qadri / AP)



12) Local residents during the evacuation wrapped in blankets. At the moment, the threat of new descent of avalanches still exists. (Altaf Qadri / AP)



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