DUSHANBE, March 17, 2010, Asia-Plus -- An avalanche killed at least one person in the Anzob tunnel area Wednesday afternoon, while several people remained trapped under snow, Jumaboy Tolibov, editor-in-chief of the Dushanbe weekly Paykon who departed Dushanbe for Khujand today morning, told Asia-Plus by mobile phone from the avalanche site. 

According to him, the avalanche occurred at the southern portal of the Anzob Tunnel today afternoon at about 4:30 pm and hit a road that connects Dushanbe with Khujand, the capital of Sughd province.

“Six persons have been rescued and unfortunately, one body has been dug out,” Tolibov said, noting that he cannot say how may people are still under snow at the moment.

In the meantime, the Committee for Emergency Situations (CES) and the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) say they received information about the disaster and rescue team and equipment were sent to the site.