An avalanche swept through five residential houses killing 35 people, including women and children, in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, an official said on Tuesday.

The disaster happened overnight in the Argho Panjkhwa district of the remote and rugged province which borders China, Pakistan and Tajikistan, said Abdul Maroof Rasekh, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

With weather warming, avalanches are normal at this time of year in parts of the province, one of the poorest parts of Afghanistan.

Last month, dozens of passengers died when their vehicles were trapped for days by avalanches on a main highway that passes through mountains north of Kabul.


Reuters