News

Two Hamilton, Ont., residents who were in Afghanistan visiting family members died in a series of avalanches earlier this week.

Basgul Hassani, 55, and her daughter Farida Hammady, 31, are among more than 170 people who died in the avalanches on Monday.

“We lost two people, two members of our family,” said Najiba Nazari, who is married to Ms. Hassani's son.

Avalanches in the Salang Pass, the major route through the Hindu Kush mountains that connect Kabul to the north, on Monday sent tonnes of snow and ice crashing down on hundreds of vehicles along the treacherous highway. More than 170 people have died and some 3,000 have been rescued.

“The avalanches in Afghanistan have resulted in a tragic loss of life. Our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been injured. We are aware of reports that two Canadians were involved in an avalanche in Afghanistan. Consular officials are looking into these reports and stand ready to provide consular assistance as needed,” Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Monette said in an e-mail Thursday.

Ms. Hassani and Ms. Hammady had been in Afghanistan for two weeks.

Ms. Nazari said the family is reeling. “Everything was mom and sister,” she said softly in an interview Thursday. She said 11 members of the family came to Canada in 2003.

With a report from The Associated Press