2015 Afghanistan avalanches

2015 Afghanistan avalanche

Location of Panjshir Province in Afghanistan
Date 24–28 February 2015
Location Panjshir Province, Afghanistan
Deaths 310+
Non-fatal injuries 129+

On February 24–28, 2015, a total of 40 avalanches in Panjshir Province, Afghanistan killed at least 310 people, and another 129 were wounded.[1] 1,000 Afghani troops were deployed to Panjshir Province to assist rescue efforts.[2] According to the acting governor of Panjshir, Abdul Rahman Kabiri, these avalanches were the worst Afghanistan had seen in three decades.[3]

Cause

The avalanches were caused by heavy snowstorms in the area.[4] Heavy snowfall is a common cause of avalanches.[5] Snow builds up as snowfall continues and it eventually reaches a point at which the weight of the snowfall overcomes the cohesion of the snow, resulting in an avalanche.[5] Rising temperatures may have also had an effect, due to the fact that temperature rise can affect the cohesion of snow.[5] These snowstorms have also hampered rescue efforts, with some areas receiving nearly a meter of snow.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Avalanches kill more than 300 in Afghanistan". The Telegraph.
  2. ↑ AP (26 February 2015). "Afghanistan avalanche toll rises to 162". USA Today. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Afghanistan's Panjshir hit by deadly avalanches". BBC. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Popalzai, Masoud (26 February 2015). "Death toll at 168 from Afghanistan avalanches". CNN. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Natural Hazards - Avalanches". www.n-d-a.org. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  6. ↑ Associated Press (25 February 2015). "Avalanches caused by heavy snow kill at least 124 people in Afghanistan". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2015.


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