Snow storm raging in Asia

Heavy snowfall and cold weather have killed and blocked traffic in parts of Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Pakistan. Some areas have snow for the first time in years, people have to try to keep warm when the temperature drops to negative and lack of electricity.

In Iran, snow was thick over the past few days, causing 8 people to freeze to death due to being stuck in cars. About 40,000 other drivers escape death after being rescued from the vehicle. In some desert areas of Iran, snow fell for the first time. In addition, at some points in the country, the temperature dropped to -24 degrees C.

This is the first time in many years, such heavy snowfall in Iran. Tehran announced two days off nationwide and the government urged people to stay home to avoid cold. Other countries in the region have similar problems. Some Central Asian countries have reported unusual cold temperatures.

In Kyrgyzstan, a government agency, said 50 homeless people were frozen in the first four days of the new year.

In Tajikistan, people find ways to keep warm when the daytime temperatures drop to -10 ° C while energy from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan is cut off, causing power supplies to be reduced to only four hours a day.

Thick snow also caused many deaths in Afghanistan. There were five people who died of avalanches in Ghor province, in western Afghanistan, in Herat, an eight-person family was also killed by a collapsed roof due to heavy snow. In some provinces, including Ghor, and Badakhshan in northeastern Afghanistan, a number of counties are isolated from the provincial capital because of the snow. Currently, officials are trying to clear the snow on major roads.

Heavy snow also blocked roads and killed many people in Pakistan's northwest border, with seven soldiers killed by avalanches.

Photo of Iran's Tehran capital flooded with snow (Photo: BBC)

This winter's snowfall is the thickest in 40 years in Iran.

Hoai Linh