At least 23 killed in Pakistan avalanche

CHITRAL/PAKISTAN: An avalanche in remote, northern Pakistan killed at least 23 people and another 14 were still missing, police said on Sunday.

The avalanche buried 26 houses in snow in Washik Chitral Tor village, some 150 kilometres north of the town of Chitral late on Saturday, local police official Ali Khan said.

"Twenty-three bodies have been taken out from the snow and rubble, 14 others were still missing and six others were pulled out alive," Khan said.

Rescue efforts were hampered by routes closed due to heavy snowfall in the region. Authorities were arranging for helicopters to send relief supplies and help search for the missing, he said.