Avalanche kills 45 in Afghanistan

At least 45 people were killed Monday morning when avalanche hit and destroyed 13 houses in Mandol district of eastern Afghan province of Nuristan, an official said.

"The tragic incident happened in Guru and Koshan villages of Madol district in the wee hours of Monday and so far 45 people including women and children have been confirmed dead," deputy to provincial governor Qazi Mohammad Nabi Ahmadi told Xinhua.

He also said that the casualties could go up as rescue operation is going on in the remote area of the province some 180 km east of capital city of Kabul.

More than 50 people had been killed when snow avalanche hit neighbouring Badakhshan province earlier this month, Afghan officials said.

However, the United Nations mission in the country said that the number of victims could be as high as 145 in Badakhshan, some 315 km northeast of Kabul.

Parts of Afghanistan have received heavy snowfall over the past one month. More than 40 people had lost their lives due to heavy snows and freezing weather in the mountainous Badakhshan province last month while dozens of people including children died in Kabul due to freezing weather during the winter.