DUSHANBE, January 5, Asia-Plus -- An avalanche killed at least four persons in eastern Tajikistan Friday morning, Asia-Plus has learned at the Ministry of Interior.

The source at a MoI said the avalanche occurred in the Labijar area, Nuorobod district, some 156 kilometers east of Dushanbe, at around 3:00 a.m., trapping one of two cars that were moving to Dushanbe.

“Driver of the second car informed traffic police officers of the avalanche,” the source said, noting that rescuers managed to reach the site and dug out four bodies only in the afternoon.

Rescuers failed to pull the car out of the snow because a series of new avalanches occurred in the area, according to the source. 

The highway from Dushanbe to Rasht is now closed for traffic.