Cold kills 85 in Afghanistan
15/01/2008 20:49  - (SA)  

Cold weather kills 52 'Missing' soldiers found safe More weather disasters expected

Kabul, Afghanistan - Heavy snow, avalanches and cold weather have killed at least 85 people in western Afghanistan in recent days, officials said on Tuesday.

In hardest hit Badghis province in the northwest, avalanches and continuing snowstorms have killed 60 people in the past four days, said Badghis Governor Ashraf Nasiri.

He said villagers have lost thousands of cattle, but have not received any government aid or other assistance.

Ten people, including two children, have died due to bad weather in neighboring Ghor province, said provincial police chief Shah Jahan Noori.

An avalanche killed five children in Herat province bordering Iran, and winter weather has been blamed for 10 deaths in Farah, another province on the border, said Abdul Mutalab, spokesperson for the western regional police.

Most Afghans live in remote and rural areas that lack basic infrastructure such as roads and electricity. During the country's harsh winters, villagers often succumb to cold or are victims of avalanches.

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