Thirty die in severe Afghan cold

The head of the Afghan Red Crescent aid agency, Abuzar, told the BBC 15 people were killed when an avalanche hit five villages in Ragh district.

He said 15 others had died in the province from the cold weather.

Local officials in Badakshan are waiting for helicopters to bring emergency aid, including food and medicine, he added.

The avalanche has flattened 150 houses in the five villages in Ragh district and the villages are totally cut off from the provincial capital of Faizabad, Abuzar said.