Death toll of snowfall, avalanches rise to 216 in Afghanistan

Afghan men remove snow from the roof of a damaged house after avalanches in Panjshir province, February 26, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

KABUL - The number of those who have lost their lives in the snowfall and avalanches in Afghanistan have soared to 216, chief of Natural Disaster Management Authority ( NDMA) Deam Kakar said Friday.

"Our data collected so far confirms the death of 216 people including women and children in the avalanches and snowfall across the country and 27 sustained injuries," Kakar told Xinhua.

He also added that the vast majority of the victims are in Panjshir province as 182 people have been confirmed dead there in the mountainous province.

Hundreds of houses have been destroyed and damaged due to heavy snowfall and avalanches that swept parts of the mountainous country for three successive days starting from Sunday, the official stressed.

Rescue operations have been going on and humanitarian assistance has been dispatched to the affected areas, Kakar said.