2010 Salang avalanches
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Salang avalanches consisted of a series of at least 36 avalanche
s that struck the southern approach to the Salang tunnel
, north of Kabul
, Afghanistan
on February 8 and 9, 2010, burying 3.5 km (2.2 mi) of road, killing at least 172 people and trapping over 2,000 travellers. They were caused by a freak storm in the Hindu Kush
mountains located in Afghanistan
.
, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society
(ARCS). Najibullah Barith, ARCS's director in Kandahar
complained about the lack of local and national resources.
11 people were killed by avalanches in Farah
, Bamyan, Ghor, and Daykundi provinces between February 4 and February 8, a spokesman of the Afghanistan National Disasters Management Authority said. The Afghan flash flood
s and avalanches left 20 others dead in the rest of the country on February 8. The provincial authorities had summoned an emergency meeting and Loya Jurga to discuss responses on February 8. Shah Wali Kot and Shorandam districts were the worst affected. Afghanistan generally expects about 400,000 people every year, according to experts at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
trapping thousands of people in their vehicles who were travelling in the tunnel, and cutting off one of the major travel links to Northern Afghanistan. Official reports soon after the avalanche report up to 64 people were feared dead and that more could die. Afghanistan's interior minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar believed that there could be at least 2,500 people trapped in their vehicles. Many vehicles were pushed down the mountains, and hundreds of cars were buried in snow. Among the survivors many injuries were reported.
The avalanches were caused by a sudden blizzard that struck the area, closing the tunnel and the roads around it on both sides of the tunnel. The tunnel was reopened on February 12, 2010.
Annually about 250 avalanches strike the road, and the total loss of life during the 2008/9 season was about 40 people.
was forming the main backbone of the recovery effort with at least 500 troops sent to the area as well as 2 helicopters and several bulldozers. NATO International Security Assistance Force
forces also gave their support providing four Chinook helicopters, as well as using helicopters to drop food and medical supplies to those trapped in their vehicles. The injured had been taken to Charikar Hospital in Parwan Province, and the more seriously injured had been taken to Bagram air base
where they received more advanced medical treatment from coalition doctors.
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. By February 10, about 2,500 people had been rescued, but it was feared that more people were still buried in their snow-trapped vehicles.
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
s that struck the southern approach to the Salang tunnel
Salang tunnel
The Salang Tunnel , located in Parwan province, is a link between northern and southern Afghanistan crossing the Hindukush mountain range under the difficult Salang Pass....
, north of Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
on February 8 and 9, 2010, burying 3.5 km (2.2 mi) of road, killing at least 172 people and trapping over 2,000 travellers. They were caused by a freak storm in the Hindu Kush
Hindu Kush
The Hindu Kush is an mountain range that stretches between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. The highest point in the Hindu Kush is Tirich Mir in the Chitral region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.It is the westernmost extension of the Pamir Mountains, the Karakoram Range, and is a...
mountains located in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Leading up to the disaster
On February 7, 10 people were killed in Kandahar ProvinceKandahar Province
Kandahar or Qandahar is one of the largest of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is located in southern Afghanistan, between Helmand, Oruzgan and Zabul provinces. Its capital is the city of Kandahar, which is located on the Arghandab River. The province has a population of nearly...
, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society
Afghan Red Crescent Society
The Afghan Red Cross Society is the Afghan affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Society has existed for over 70 years although with limited structure due to the prevailing conditions which have affected the country at large for over 20 years.-...
(ARCS). Najibullah Barith, ARCS's director in Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
complained about the lack of local and national resources.
11 people were killed by avalanches in Farah
Farah
-Given name:* Farah Pahlavi , née Dibah, the last Empress of Iran* Farah , a Bollywood actress of 80s* Farah Hussain, Pakistani actress and presenter* Farah Khan, Indian choreographer and director...
, Bamyan, Ghor, and Daykundi provinces between February 4 and February 8, a spokesman of the Afghanistan National Disasters Management Authority said. The Afghan flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
s and avalanches left 20 others dead in the rest of the country on February 8. The provincial authorities had summoned an emergency meeting and Loya Jurga to discuss responses on February 8. Shah Wali Kot and Shorandam districts were the worst affected. Afghanistan generally expects about 400,000 people every year, according to experts at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Avalanches
Heavy wind and rain in the area just before the incident caused up to 17 avalanches that buried at least 3.5 km (2.2 mi) of roadway in the Salang TunnelSalang tunnel
The Salang Tunnel , located in Parwan province, is a link between northern and southern Afghanistan crossing the Hindukush mountain range under the difficult Salang Pass....
trapping thousands of people in their vehicles who were travelling in the tunnel, and cutting off one of the major travel links to Northern Afghanistan. Official reports soon after the avalanche report up to 64 people were feared dead and that more could die. Afghanistan's interior minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar believed that there could be at least 2,500 people trapped in their vehicles. Many vehicles were pushed down the mountains, and hundreds of cars were buried in snow. Among the survivors many injuries were reported.
The avalanches were caused by a sudden blizzard that struck the area, closing the tunnel and the roads around it on both sides of the tunnel. The tunnel was reopened on February 12, 2010.
Annually about 250 avalanches strike the road, and the total loss of life during the 2008/9 season was about 40 people.
Rescue
The Afghan National ArmyAfghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
was forming the main backbone of the recovery effort with at least 500 troops sent to the area as well as 2 helicopters and several bulldozers. NATO International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
forces also gave their support providing four Chinook helicopters, as well as using helicopters to drop food and medical supplies to those trapped in their vehicles. The injured had been taken to Charikar Hospital in Parwan Province, and the more seriously injured had been taken to Bagram air base
Bagram Air Base
Bagram Airfield, also referred to as Bagram Air Base, is a militarized airport and housing complex that is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, southeast of Charikar in Parwan province of Afghanistan. The base is run by a US Army division headed by a major general. A large part of the base,...
where they received more advanced medical treatment from coalition doctors.
Beside the direct injuries from the avalanche, there was also the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after enough inhalation of carbon monoxide . Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect...
inside the poorly ventilated tunnel, while the traffic was stalled for a long time. By February 10, about 2,500 people had been rescued, but it was feared that more people were still buried in their snow-trapped vehicles.
Criticism
Institutional authorities including the National Meteorology Authority (NMA) came under criticism for allowing the disaster to unfold. 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 UN and international forces.See also
- Salang tunnelSalang tunnelThe Salang Tunnel , located in Parwan province, is a link between northern and southern Afghanistan crossing the Hindukush mountain range under the difficult Salang Pass....
- Salang Pass
- Salang tunnel fireSalang tunnel fireThe Salang tunnel fire occurred on 3 November 1982 in Afghanistan's Salang tunnel during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Details are uncertain, but the incident may have been the deadliest known road accident, and one of the deadliest fires of modern times.- Overview :The Salang tunnel,...
- Hindu KushHindu KushThe Hindu Kush is an mountain range that stretches between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. The highest point in the Hindu Kush is Tirich Mir in the Chitral region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.It is the westernmost extension of the Pamir Mountains, the Karakoram Range, and is a...
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