LOC00:13
21:13 GMT
ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (KUNA) -- At least nine people were killed and a child was injured as an avalanche struck a house in a remote area of Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.
The district administrative chief, Deputy Commissioner Rao Hashim Azeem said, in a statement to the press on Friday, that the disaster took place in the remote Damel area of Sareegal village in Lower Chitral district.
Locals immediately launched rescue efforts and initially recovered four bodies from the rubble when a massive snow slide trapped 10 members of the same family under the debris, he noted.
All bodies buried under the debris were recovered, and an injured child was rescued alive and was being transferred to the hospital for medical treatment, he added.
Among the dead were seven children, including three girls. Pakistan army and scouts along with local volunteers participated in the rescue operation.
KPK Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a weather advisory warning of further rain and snowfall in various parts of the province in coming days.
President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives due to the avalanche in Chitral.
In separate messages, they extended their heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, praying for the elevation of ranks of the departed souls.
The President directed federal, provincial, and local authorities to accelerate relief efforts in the affected areas and maintain constant communication with the public.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister directed the relevant federal rescue and relief agencies to accelerate aid operations in cooperation with the provincial government. (end)
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