145 presumed dead in Afghan avalanche

At least 145 people are missing and 'presumed dead' after an avalanche hit a village in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province on March 4, the United Nations said Saturday. Afghan officials early Saturday put the death toll from a series of avalanches at 56 in the Shekay district of the mountainous province. The United Nations said an avalanche in the area on March 4 claimed 50 lives. It also warned of severe flooding in the coming weeks. Afghanistan's harshest winter in 15 years has claimed scores of lives, with the avalanches taking the toll to more than 90 in Badakhshan alone, according to officials.