A huge rescue operation is underway in the Hindu Kush. <br /><br />This is the Salang Pass in Afghanistan.<br /><br />It's the main route across the mountains from Kabul to the north of Afghanistan. <br /><br />The landmark Salang road tunnel has been closed by a series of avalanches after days of heavy snowfall.<br /><br />Scores of people are believed dead after spending Monday night in extreme mountain conditions. It's estimated about three thousand were trapped in their vehicles, leading to the massive recovery effort.<br /><br />Afghan defense minister, Abdul Rahim Wardak. <br /><br />[Abdul Rahim Wardak, Afghan Defense Minister]: (Dari) <br />"The most serious avalanches were in south of Salang Pass and have affected around 3,000 of our people, a number of them are either wounded or lost their lives."<br /><br />About six hundred soldiers and emergency workers are involved, as the operation goes into a second night. Some of the bodies of the dead were being carried by luckier passengers who managed to walk out of danger.<br /><br />It's believed hundreds remain trapped. <br /><br />President Hamid Karzai says he's saddened by the deaths and has ordered all possible effort to re-open the pass.
