30 people trapped and six dead in an avalanche in Afghanistan: regional official.

 30 people trapped and six dead in an avalanche in Afghanistan: regional official

Overnight on Sunday, an avalanche raced through the village of Nakre in the Tatin Valley of Nuristan, covering houses in debris and snow. Hashimi said that about 20 residences were completely demolished or severely damaged. The chairman of the province's public works department, Maulvi Mohammad Nabi Adel, stated, "the helicopter cannot land in Nuristan due to clouds and rain." He also mentioned that snow had blocked one of the main highways entering the region, making "the rescue operation difficult."

Afghanistan is among the poorest nations on earth; it has seen decades of conflict, is prone to natural disasters, and is at risk from extreme weather brought on by climate change.
After the US-led invasion, Afghanistan was once awash in humanitarian help; but, since the Taliban retook power in the middle of 2021, funding to the country has drastically decreased, partly due to the numerous restrictions the group placed on women. The province of Nuristan, which shares a border with Pakistan, hugs the southern edge of the Hindu Kush mountain range and is primarily covered with forested mountains.

Although Afghanistan is used to severe winters, this year's snowfall was delayed in several areas.
Many farmers in a nation strongly dependent on agriculture have been forced to postpone planting due to the abnormally low level of rain. Residents living in the Western Cape were advised by the South African Weather Service (Saws) to prepare for strong thunderstorms and wind damage on Thursday.

According to The Saws, strong winds and rain are predicted for these storms, which could result in localized flooding and structural damage, especially in the southern regions of the Western Cape province. A Yellow Level 2 warning has also been issued for Cape Agulhas to Port Alfred, alerting mariners to potentially dangerous gusts and seas that could capsize small boats.

To maintain safety, residents are asked to be cautious and to adopt the required safety precautions.

The Saws also issued a warning about heatwave conditions that would persist until Thursday in a number of provinces, including the Free State, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and portions of the Eastern Cape. In certain areas, the heatwave would persist until Saturday.

In addition to further warnings for Joe Gqabi in the Eastern Cape and Beaufort West in the Western Cape addressing fire hazard conditions, a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds has been issued for Durban to Kosi Bay.

When people make plans for the weekend, they should be alert and adjust plans based on current weather conditions to stay safe in the unpredictable weather.

2024 entries are now being accepted. International Press Photo Contest Andrei Stenin

On Friday, the photojournalist Andrei Stenin, a Rossiya Segodnya, celebrated his birthday. Andrei Stenin was killed in 2014 while performing his duties in the Donbas. This is the tenth annual Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest.

The Rossiya Segodnya media organization hosts the competition every year to find fresh talent among photojournalists between the ages of 18 and 33. Its international media partner is the news agency and radio station Sputnik.

The contest's administrator, Oksana Oleinik, stated, "We are very pleased to launch the 10th anniversary competition, a tribute to our colleague and war correspondent Andrei Stenin."

"In the last ten years, it has developed into a genuinely global forum for upcoming and gifted photographers who don't mind taking chances.