Officials in Afghanistan said that more than 100 people have been killed by avalanches during a heavy snowstorm in the province of Panjshir.
The Associated Press reported that as of Wednesday, local authorities said that 124 people are confirmed dead, but that number is expected to rise.
Rescue efforts have been hampered by the continuous snowfall and Gov. Abdul Rahman Kabiri said that searchers have been using their hands as well as shovels to try and locate any survivors.
Reuters noted that Kabiri also said that this is the most snow the Panjshir region has seen in decades.
"We haven't seen this much snow, or this many avalanches, for 30 years," the acting governor said. "If the central government doesn't provide humanitarian support, machinery and food soon, this will turn to a disaster.”
Kabiri added that around two dozen people were injured.
Panjshir is located in the northeastern part of the country and is comprised of over 500 villages with a population of about 140,000. Before this latest winter storm, the area was experiencing a fairly dry season.
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