Massive Landslide Buries Remote Afghan Village

Alan Taylor
May 5, 2014
22 Photos
In Focus

Last Friday, in Afghanistan's mountainous northeastern province of Badakhshan, an enormous landslide took place, burying much of a small village, and killing hundreds. Officials say that at least 300 residents of Abi Barik village were killed, but are uncertain about exact numbers, cautioning that the final number could be 500 or more. Rescue teams gave up hope on Saturday of finding any survivors, focusing energy on helping the hundreds suddenly made homeless. Many of the surviving families have struggled to get aid. Some have gone to nearby villages to stay with relatives or friends, while others have slept in tents provided by aid groups.

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An aerial view shows the site of Friday's landslide that buried Abi Barik village in Badakhshan province, northeastern Afghanistan, on May 5, 2014. Afghan officials said they plan to build new houses for hundreds of families made homeless by a landslide that entombed a northeastern village and killed at least 300 people, perhaps as many as 2,700. #

Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images

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An aerial view shows the site of the landslide that buried Abi Barik village on May 5, 2014. Hundreds of people were killed in a horrific landslide and authorities are trying to help the 700 families displaced by the torrent of mud that swept through their village. The families left their homes due to the threat of more landslides, Minister for Rural Rehabilitation Wais Ahmad Barmak said. #

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Afghan villagers search through dirt at the scene in the landslide-hit Abi Barik village on May 5, 2014. #

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A landslide-affected Afghan villager looks on at the scene of the incident on May 4, 2014. #

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The mud and rocks of the landslide, above Abi Barik village in Badakhshan province on May 5, 2014. #

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Afghan villagers gather at the site of the landslide in Badakhshan province on May 3, 2014. #

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Afghan rescuers pull the carcass of a donkey as they search desperately for survivors trapped under the mud in Badakhshan province on May 3, 2014, after a massive landslide buried a village. #

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An aerial view shows the site of Friday's landslide on May 5, 2014. #

AP Photo/Rahmat Gul

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In this Sunday, May 4, 2014 photo, survivors line up to receive donations near the site of Friday's landslide in northeastern Afghanistan. #

AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini

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An aerial view of people walking near the site of the landslide that buried Abi Barik village on May 5, 2014. #

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Afghan villagers rebuild their house after a the landslide on May 4, 2014. #

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An Afghan woman who survived a landslide waits for aid near the site of the disaster on May 4, 2014. #

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Afghan landslide-affected villagers gather near tents outside Abi Barik village on May 5, 2014. #

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In this Sunday, May 4, 2014 photo, survivors sit with their possessions near the site of Friday's landslide. #

AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini

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Survivors walk near the site of Friday's landslide on May 4, 2014. #

AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini

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An Afghan man holds his son near the site of the landslide. #

AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini

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Te edge of Friday's landslide that buried part of Abi Barik village on May 5, 2014. #

AP Photo/Rahmat Gul

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An Afghan villager cries as others search through debris at the scene in the landslide-hit Abi Barik village on May 5, 2014. #

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A young orphaned Afghan villager, who lost his family in the landslide, lies in the dirt as he grieves on May 5, 2014. #

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Survivors sit with their possessions on the outskirts of Abi-Barik village on May 4, 2014. #

AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini

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An Afghan survivor sits, waiting to receive donations, near the site of Friday's landslide in Badakhshan province. #

AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini

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Afghan villagers dig through the mud and rocks of a landslide that buried much of Abi Barik village on May 5, 2014. #

Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images

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