Afghan twin landslides site declared 'mass grave'

The site where the devastating twin landslides in Afghanistan first consumed a remote village and then hundreds of rescuers has reportedly been declared a mass grave by the Afghan authorities.

According to CNN, Shah Waliullah Adeeb, the provincial governor of Badakhshan said that during the rescue mission, almost 600 people from a nearby village, who volunteered to help dig people out, were consumed by a second landslide.

The search has been called off after recue teams toiled in vain to dig out bodies buried beneath the huge rubble.

Shah Waliullah Adeeb told reporters that the authorities have a list of around 300 people confirmed dead.

He said that the rescue teams cannot continue the search and rescue operation anymore, as the houses are under metres of mud, adding that prayers will be offered for the victims and the area will be made a mass grave.

Meanwhile, the Afghan presidential palace said that Sunday will be a day of national mourning.

Nearly 300 to 400 homes were buried in the massive landslide that buried a village in the north-east Afghan province of Badakhshan with almost 2000 people feared dead in the double slides.

A spokesman for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said that authorities are now focusing on about 4,000 survivors and evacuees and response groups were rounding up food, water, medical support, counselors and emergency shelter for them, the report added.