Landslide kills 4, destroys houses in Afghanistan

At least four people have been reported dead and scores of houses destroyed as a landslide hit two villages in the northern Takhar province with Taluqan as its capital 245 km north of Kabul on Saturday, a spokesman for the provincial government said. "A landslide caused by heavy rains hit the villages of Khuja Khirat and Pusta Mazar early Saturday morning destroying scores of houses and so far four dead bodies have been recovered," Sanatullah Timor told Xinhua. Rescue teams have been sent to the area to inspect and rescue those trapped under debris, he said. However, the official noted that the heavy rains and flooding have damaged the roads and thus made it difficult for the rescue teams to conduct rescue operations.