At least 35 people have died and another 30 are missing after a large avalanche hit an mountain village in the northwestern Pakistani district of Kohistan, Pakistani media said.

Officials said that the death toll might rise as many people were still trapped under the avalanche, which was caused by heavy snow storms in recent days.

Some houses are also buried under the snow.

The ongoing rescue operation is complicated by the remote location and mountainous terrain, with roads blocked due to landslides and the large amount of snow. Helicopters and heavy machinery were sent to evacuate the injured and clear roads in the area.

Seven people were also killed in a separate avalanche on Monday in the northern district of Chitral. Officials said the remote location had prevented them reaching the area earlier.

Avalanches are frequent in Pakistani mountains neighboring Afghanistan and India.

MOSCOW, February 18 (RIA Novosti)