Heavy snow and avalanches in part of Afghanistan and Pakistan kill scores

Dozens of people in Afghanistan and Pakistan have been killed after heavy snow and avalanches hit over the weekend.

An Afghan man removes snow from his shop on the outskirts of Kabul on Feb. 5, 2017. Photo: Omar Sobhani—Reuters

45 died and 11 were injured in northeastern Afghanistan's Barg-e-Matal district. Nuristan Province Governor Hafiz Abdul Qayum said the death toll may rise as more victims are discovered. The area is about 150 miles northeast of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

The village's 14 dead include six women, six children and two men, Colonel Nizamuddin Shah told CNN affiliate Geo News.

Sheena Ayub Khan, spokesperson for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province's disaster management authority, told CNN that evacuation efforts are currently underway.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will coordinate rescue efforts and arrange medical assistance, food and shelter for those affected.

Chitral is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, where flash floods killed at least 47 people and left 37 others injured in April./.

VNF