Ghazni provincial council head Khaliqdad Akbari, is one of 15 people trapped following an avalanche in Nawar district of Ghazni province.

Akbari said in a phone conversation with TOLOnews that he went to Nawar district to assess the situation, along with two council members and bodyguards.

While they were in the village of Dash-e-Nawar there was an avalanche, which cut off their exit route.

Recent snowfalls in the area have largely cut off access to the provincial capital, Ghazni city, said other council members.

Meanwhile, officials in Ghor province said continuous snowfall in the province has closed off access from nine districts to the provincial capital of Firoz Koh.

Ghor officials said they are concerned about the safety of people in the province because of the severe weather.

Badakhshan is another province that has been hard-hit by heavy snowfalls that have led to the closure of routes.

Among the highways in the country currently closed are the Salang Pass, Hajigak Pass in Bamiyan, two passes in Maidan Wardak, a pass in Sar-e-Pul and Herat.

State Disaster Management Authority said in a statement Saturday that at least 20 vehicles are currently stuck on the Ghor-Herat highway.