[8] A spokesman for the Afghanistan National Disasters Management Authority said that 11 people were killed by avalanches in Farah, Bamyan, Ghor and Daykundi provinces between 4 and 8 February.

[13] The Afghan National Army formed the main backbone of the recovery effort with at least 500 troops sent to the area as well as two helicopters and several bulldozers.

[15] Beside the direct injuries from the avalanche, there was also the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning inside the poorly-ventilated tunnel, while the traffic was stalled for a long time.

[1] Although heavy snowfall had been forecast in the Salang area and structural walls had been weakened in previous avalanches, the pass was not closed and no preparations had been put in place.

Officials point out that Afghanistan lacks the resources and infrastructure for the prevention and management of natural disasters and relies to some degree upon help by the United Nations and international forces.