Dozens Buried Alive in Afghanistan Avalanche

At least 37 Afghans have died after an avalanche buried their village in snow, officials said Tuesday.

The avalanche, which slammed into the village in the Shekay district late Monday, also left dozens trapped, according to provincial government spokesman Abdul Rauf Rasekh.

The tragedy came after days of heavy snowfall followed by a rise in temperature, Agence France Presse reported.

Thirty-seven bodies, including women and children, have been recovered from under the snow so far, Rasekh said, according to AFP.

He added that as rescue teams frantically dug for survivors the death toll was expected to rise.

Six of those injured in the avalanche have already been evacuated to neighboring Tajikistan for emergency treatment.

This winter has been the harshest in Afghanistan for 15 years; with the latest tragedy taking the death toll in Badakhshan province alone to 80 so far this year.

Although avalanche deaths are not uncommon in Afghanistan, the 2011/2012 season has been particularly bad.

In late February 35 children died over two days in remote districts of Badakshan after roads to districts were blocked by heavy snow, AFP reported.