2009 Afghan avalanches

{{Short description|Natural disaster in Afghanistan}}

{{Infobox News event

|image={{Location map|Afghanistan|width=200 |float=center |caption= |mark=Cross.svg |marksize=6 |label=Salang Tunnel |position=bottom |lat_deg=35 |lat_min=19 |lat_sec=19.91 |lat_dir=N |lon_deg=69 |lon_min=1 |lon_sec=36.72 |lon_dir=E }}

|caption=Salang Tunnel in relation to Afghanistan

|date= {{start date|2009|01|16}}

|time=

|place= near Kabul, Afghanistan

|casualties1=At least 10 dead

}}

The 2009 Afghan avalanches occurred near Kabul, Afghanistan on 16 January 2009. At least ten people were killed and twelve vehicles and machinery used to clear the road of snow were swept away when the avalanche struck a highway.{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/asia/afghanistan-avalanches-kill-10-14145412.html?r=RSS|title=Afghanistan avalanches kill 10|date=2009-01-18|accessdate=2009-01-18|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph}} Forty people were rescued, eleven of whom were injured by the avalanches. The avalanches struck the southern part of the Salang tunnel, the main highway linking southern and northern Afghanistan in the middle of the Hindu Kush mountains, at an altitude of {{convert|4450|m|ft}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50H0ON20090118?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews|title=Avalanches kill at least 10 in Afghanistan: official|date=2009-01-18|accessdate=2009-01-18|work=Reuters}} Searchers spent the next two days and beyond locating the victims.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/world-news/asia/afghanistan-avalanches-kill-10-1606066.html|title=Afghanistan avalanches kill 10|date=2009-01-18|accessdate=2009-01-18|newspaper=Irish Independent}}