Seven survivors plucked from Pakistan avalanche

Bankok Post - Rescue workers using sticks and spades have recovered seven survivors from a huge avalanche that slammed into a remote village in northern Pakistan, police and officials said Friday

A massive wall of snow struck the small village of Bagroodara wedged into a mountain in the Kundian valley, where heavy snow and treacherous winter weather prevented rescuers from reaching the stricken area quickly.

Police and local officials said the confirmed death toll could rise to 30, with 17 bodies retrieved and 13 people still buried under the snow and believed to have died, he added.

Local residents were the first to arrive on scene, but police arrived more than 24 hours after the avalanche slapped into the poorly developed region, senior police officer Mohammad Ilyas told AFP in Dasu.

The village is in Kohistan district, about 220 kilometres (140 miles) north of the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

"They were ill-equipped but using local tools like spades and sticks residents joined police and recovered seven people alive," said Ilyas.

Kohistan health department official Gul Berg said the chances of survival for 13 people still trapped under the snow were "almost nil".

"They are buried under huge mass of ice for the past three days and no hope is left now," Berg said.