Thousands feared trapped by Afghanistan landslides

HOBO BARIK , Afghanistan, May 2 (UPI) -- A landslide Friday afternoon buried hundreds of homes in the northwestern Afghan village of Hono Barik in the Badakshan region.

Seven people have been rescued thus far, and there are conflicting reports regarding how many victims remain. Badakshan Gov. Shah Wiliullah Adeeb said 2,000 people are missing.

The landslide was triggered by heavy rains and the collapse of a hill in the mountainous and remote area of Afghanistan, which borders China. The area has been relatively free from insurgent attacks against the U.S. presence in the country.

Avalanches are not unusual in this part of Afghanistan. One, in 2010, killed 2010 at the Salang Pass, the primary route through the Hindu Kush mountains.