Avalanche kills 9 in northern Pakistan

At least nine people died Sunday after an avalanche hit a small village in northern Pakistan, a local official said.

The avalanche hit the village of Shershal in Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province a popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty.

The bodies of the victims, among them four women and three children, have been recovered, Chitral District Coordination Officer, Shahab Hamid, told dpa.

Three others were seriously injured and transferred to Peshawar Hospital for treatment, Hamid said, adding that search and rescue operations had been completed.

The avalanche completely destroyed four houses in Shershal where 19 families reside, Hamid said.

Senior government official, Syed Shah, said that several families had been evacuated from the area but that some had not yet left.