Iran's President Condoles with Afghan Counterpart over Avalanche Casualties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a message to his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, voiced his sympathy with the nation and government of Afghanistan over the death of nearly 250 people in the recent avalanches in northeast of Kabul.
"The death and injury of dozens of Afghan people in the recent avalanches in some provinces of Afghanistan, especially in the Panjshir valley, have caused deep sorrow," President Rouhani said in a message on Saturday evening.
He said the Islamic Republic of Iran has always stood by the people of its Muslim neighbor in different eras and in days of hardship, and will stand by them again in this catastrophe, adding that his country is ready to send the needed aid to Afghanistan.
He also wished health and success for his Afghan counterpart, and dignity and good luck for the nation and government of the country.
Several days of severe weather and heavy snow in the Paryan district of Panjshir province in Afghanistan led to a series of deadly avalanches that collapsed houses and buried residents.
Afghan officials say that nearly 250 people had been killed in the avalanches, dozens more had been injured, and thousands displaced.
Rescue missions have been trying to reach survivors since Wednesday, with the Afghan government reported to be shouldering most of the burden in relief operations.