Afghan Landslide Kills At Least 350 - Voice of America

A massive landslide triggered by heavy rain has killed at least 350 people and left thousands of others missing in northeastern Afghanistan.

The governor of Badakhshan province said more than 2,000 people are still unaccounted for after the landslide buried around 300 homes Friday.

U.N. officials say 350 people are confirmed dead.

Afghan National Disaster Management Authority chief Daim Kakar told VOA's Afghanistan service on Friday that work is under way to rescue people in the mountainous Argo district . Helicopters and relief teams have been dispatched to help in the effort.

Several hundred people have been evacuated from the area for fear of additional landslides.

During a press conference in Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama expressed his condolences over the disaster. He said, "our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan, who have experienced an awful tragedy."

Heavy rain is taking its toll on Afghanistan. Last week, floods killed at least 95 people in Jawzjan, Faryab, Sar-i-pul and Badghis provinces.

Badakhshan is one of the remotest provinces in Afghanistan, bordering China, Tajikistan and Pakistan.

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