This image made from AP video shows people searching for survivors after a massive landslide buried a village on May 2, 2014 in Badakhshan province in northeastern Afghanistan.
Kabul:
Landslides after heavy torrential rain have killed at least 350 people with more than 2000 other villagers missing in north east Afghanistan.
This is one of the deadliest natural disasters to have occurred in the country that is used to bomb blasts and suicide attacks.
The landslides took place in the village of Hobo Barik in the north-eastern province of Badakshan that borders Tajikistan and China on Friday. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Senior Public Information Officer Ari Gaitanis has told NDTV that according to his information at least 350 people have died.
As the disaster is still unfolding, the Governor of the Badakshan province, Shah Adeeb said more than 2,000 other people are still missing in the multiple landslides. He also added, a whole hill has collapsed on the village and more than 300 homes are buried in mud.
Sources say there was a wedding in the village when the first landslide struck, while the second landslide hit when people from nearby villages had rushed to help rescue those trapped.
The United Nations is also co-ordinating with agencies in the area for rescue and relief. UNAMA Spokesperson Mr Gaitanis has said that the real picture would only get clearer in daylight, since the area is very isolated.
Meanwhile, President Hamid Karzai has instructed the country's National Committee of Disaster Management to take immediate action. Top officials have been instructed to travel to the area to co-ordinate relief and rescue. Even US President Barack Obama has offered help. Speaking at a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he said, "On behalf of the American people, our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan, who have experienced an awful tragedy. We stand ready to help our Afghan partners as they respond to this disaster."
Hundreds of people have been killed in the four north and north-western provinces of Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Badghis and Jauzjan in floods in April, but the landslides in Badakshan represent perhaps the worst natural disaster in recent memory in Afghanistan.
This is one of the deadliest natural disasters to have occurred in the country that is used to bomb blasts and suicide attacks.
The landslides took place in the village of Hobo Barik in the north-eastern province of Badakshan that borders Tajikistan and China on Friday. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Senior Public Information Officer Ari Gaitanis has told NDTV that according to his information at least 350 people have died.
As the disaster is still unfolding, the Governor of the Badakshan province, Shah Adeeb said more than 2,000 other people are still missing in the multiple landslides. He also added, a whole hill has collapsed on the village and more than 300 homes are buried in mud.
Sources say there was a wedding in the village when the first landslide struck, while the second landslide hit when people from nearby villages had rushed to help rescue those trapped.
The United Nations is also co-ordinating with agencies in the area for rescue and relief. UNAMA Spokesperson Mr Gaitanis has said that the real picture would only get clearer in daylight, since the area is very isolated.
Meanwhile, President Hamid Karzai has instructed the country's National Committee of Disaster Management to take immediate action. Top officials have been instructed to travel to the area to co-ordinate relief and rescue. Even US President Barack Obama has offered help. Speaking at a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he said, "On behalf of the American people, our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan, who have experienced an awful tragedy. We stand ready to help our Afghan partners as they respond to this disaster."
Hundreds of people have been killed in the four north and north-western provinces of Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Badghis and Jauzjan in floods in April, but the landslides in Badakshan represent perhaps the worst natural disaster in recent memory in Afghanistan.
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