Heavy snowstorms have caused a series of avalanches in mountainous northeastern Afghanistan over a two-day period, killing scores of people. At least 108 people have died as a result of the avalanches in Panjshir province, said provincial Gov. Abdul Rahman Kabiri. The avalanches began Tuesday and continued Wednesday. Twenty-nine other people have been injured, 20 are missing, and about 100 homes have been destroyed, Kabiri said. He added that more people would lose their lives if the central government and nongovernmental organizations didn't send emergency assistance quickly. Panjshir is a small, mountainous province north of the capital, Kabul. Its residents are generally poor, earning their living as farmers, shepherds or operators of small businesses such as groceries. Dozens of avalanches happened in many parts of the province, but the deaths generally were in three districts: Hesa Awal, Paryan and Dara.
