Officials in Afghanistan say they fear the number of people killed in the avalanche in the north-east of the country could continue to rise. At least 166 people were killed by snow falling off mountains in the Salang Pass north of Kabul, triggering a massive rescue operation. <br/><br/>Many of the victims were killed as their vehicles plunged down the mountainsides, while others perished in the freezing conditions. Interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said that scores more vehicles remain buried beneath massive snow floes and they could contain more bodies. According to authorities, they expect to find more bodies as they wind down the rescue operation. <br/><br/>They said the ferocity of the avalanches was so great that windows of cars and buses were smashed while some tumbled into the valley below. A senior defence ministry official said the area has been hit by more than 12 avalanches since Monday. <br/><br/>According to a senior defence ministry official, an army battalion backed up by heavy machinery and other digging equipment had been deployed to the pass for rescue and recovery work.