Foreign Affairs says it is aware of reports that two Canadians have died following a series of deadly avalanches in Afghanistan this week.
Some two dozen avalanches struck the Salang Pass on Monday, a major passage through the Hindu Kush mountains that connects Kabul to the northern part of Afghanistan.
Buses were overturned in the disaster and the avalanches pushed vehicles hundreds of metres from the road, located about 115 kilometres north of the Afghan capital.
Afghan officials say rescue teams have recovered 171 bodies as of Thursday and rescued some 3,000 people.
The death toll is still expected to rise, though Interior Ministry spokesperson Zemari Beshary said the rescue is "95 per cent over."
The Hamilton Spectator reported Thursday that Hamilton residents Basgul Hassani, 55, and her daughter Farida Hammady, 31, are among the dead from the avalanches.
Hassani's son, Amirdad Hammady, told the newspaper that his mother and sister died while visiting family in Afghanistan.
A person who answered the phone at the Hammady family home on Thursday morning told CTV.ca that Amirdad Hammady was not available for comment because he was at work.
Lisa Monette, a Foreign Affairs spokesperson, told CTV.ca the department "is 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," Monette said in an e-mail.
With files from The Associated Press
