![[Afghanistan] Salang highway - a vital lifeline linking northern Afghanistan with the capital, Kabul. [Date picture taken: 12/03/2006]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/20061256.jpg.webp?itok=rCNpY3xZ "Salang Highway is the only road linking northern Afghanistan with Kabul")
Five people died and two others were injured on Monday in snowstorms and avalanches in the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan’s northern Parwan province, local officials said.
“Three passengers were killed and two others injured when an avalanche hit their vehicle on Salang highway at around 12.00am [local time],” Parwan province police chief Abdul Rahman Saidkhail said from the provincial capital Parwan.
“At around 2.00pm [local time] today, two other passengers were also killed in another snowstorm when their vehicle slipped down into a nearby stream in Jabal Seraj area of Parwan province,” Saidkhail added.
The Salang tunnel, which links the capital Kabul to the north of the country, has been closed due to the heavy snowfall, officials said.
“Some eight vehicles carrying passengers have been trapped under the snow,” Saidkhail said, adding that rescue teams had evacuated passengers from the eight trapped vehicles.
Heavy snowfall has also closed many roads in the central Bamyan province, among them the Hajigag pass linking Kabul with the area. Traffic between Bamyan and its Yakawlang district stopped on Monday due to the heavy snowfall on the road.
The relatively early start to harsh winter conditions this year has raised concern about more than 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in poor conditions across the country and around 2.5 million Afghans currently facing a looming food crisis due to this year’s harsh drought.
Plagued by conflict for more than 20 years, Afghanistan is prone to various natural disasters, including earthquakes, avalanches, floods and landslides. Flooding and mudslides are common, particularly in the spring when snow starts melting. It is estimated that natural disasters have killed more than 19,000 people and affected about 7.5 million Afghans since the early 1980s, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme.
“Three passengers were killed and two others injured when an avalanche hit their vehicle on Salang highway at around 12.00am [local time],” Parwan province police chief Abdul Rahman Saidkhail said from the provincial capital Parwan.
“At around 2.00pm [local time] today, two other passengers were also killed in another snowstorm when their vehicle slipped down into a nearby stream in Jabal Seraj area of Parwan province,” Saidkhail added.
The Salang tunnel, which links the capital Kabul to the north of the country, has been closed due to the heavy snowfall, officials said.
“Some eight vehicles carrying passengers have been trapped under the snow,” Saidkhail said, adding that rescue teams had evacuated passengers from the eight trapped vehicles.
Heavy snowfall has also closed many roads in the central Bamyan province, among them the Hajigag pass linking Kabul with the area. Traffic between Bamyan and its Yakawlang district stopped on Monday due to the heavy snowfall on the road.
The relatively early start to harsh winter conditions this year has raised concern about more than 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in poor conditions across the country and around 2.5 million Afghans currently facing a looming food crisis due to this year’s harsh drought.
Plagued by conflict for more than 20 years, Afghanistan is prone to various natural disasters, including earthquakes, avalanches, floods and landslides. Flooding and mudslides are common, particularly in the spring when snow starts melting. It is estimated that natural disasters have killed more than 19,000 people and affected about 7.5 million Afghans since the early 1980s, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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