At least 2 dead, over 20 trucks buried in landslide in Pakistan

Islamabad, Apr 18 (EFE).- More than 20 trucks got buried in a massive landslide near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan on Tuesday, resulting in at least two people dead and four injured, while many others are feared trapped, an official said.

Due to heavy rain, a large part of the mountain adjacent to Torkham border crossing point collapsed early Tuesday. A large-scale rescue operation is underway.

“Over 20 trucks were buried under the debris because of the landslide after which two dead bodies have been recovered so far,” Abdul Nasir Khan, deputy commissioner Khyber district, told EFE.

The local district government head said the exact number of the trucks buried is not known as the landslide was massive and rescue work was not concluded yet.

“The two killed have been identified as Afghan nationals and we are trying to recover the remaining injured or dead,” said Khan.

The official said that the number of casualties could increase as rescue efforts progressed.

“The landslide took place at around 2am on Tuesday on the main road which connects Pakistan with Afghanistan,” he added.

The trucks were queued at the newly-constructed road which is part of the Border Terminal project, waiting to cross into Afghanistan.

“Due to drilling and use of heavy machinery for road construction, there were already cracks in the wall built on the mountain side,” an official at the Torkham border told EFE on condition of anonymity.

Hundreds of cargo vehicles arrive at the Torkham border everyday, transporting various goods from Pakistan to Afghanistan and vice-versa.

All the vehicles are checked at the border terminal, after which they are allowed to enter Afghanistan.

Torkham, which sees 65 percent of trade between the two countries, is the largest crossing point between the two countries. EFE

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