Deadly landslide in Torkham claims two lives, buries several trucks
In wee hours of Tuesday, a landslide during a thunder and lightning storm in Torkham - a town in Khyber District near Pak-Afghan border- buried more than 20 trucks killing at least two people, with dozens more feared trapped, officials said.
A fire erupted in several trucks following a landslide but was quickly extinguished by rescue teams. Efforts to provide aid and support to those affected by the incident are being led by Rescue 1122 teams hailing from Khyber, Peshawar, Nowshehra, Charsadda, and Mardan.
“Twenty to twenty five containers are buried in wreckage,” said Abdul Nasir Khan, deputy commissioner of Khyber district. “Wreckage is quite extensive and our rescue operation is continuing with heavy machinery.”
He said two Afghan citizens had been killed, and authorities were trying to recover bodies. Three other people had been taken to hospital and the number of casualties could rise, he added.
Landslide took place in early hours of Tuesday on main route connecting Pakistan with land-locked Afghanistan, a major transit point for trade between South Asian nations and into Central Asia.
Photos shared by officials showed truck containers mostly buried in huge piles of rocks.