More than 165 people have been killed by a series of deadly snow avalanches in a mountain pass in northeast Afghanistan that trapped dozens of victims in their vehicles and sent others into the valley below on Monday. Rescuers were still digging and searching for possible survivors in the Salang Pass on Thursday. –KA

BBC:

An army battalion backed up by heavy machinery and other digging equipment had been deployed to the pass for rescue and recovery work, a senior defence ministry official said.

He said that although the road has now been cleared, it remains closed to the public to allow for emergency efforts.

Rescuers are searching farther afield for victims in cars, trucks and buses that were pushed far off the road, officials say.

Some 2,500 people have been rescued so far.

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