Salang tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Salang Tunnel located in Parwan province, is a link between northern and southern Afghanistan
crossing the Hindukush mountain range under the difficult Salang Pass.
The Salang Tunnel is the only pass going in a north-south direction to remain in use throughout the year.
It is known for a deadly fire
which occurred in November 1982, and several avalanche incidents. A series of avalanches
led to the deaths of as many as 172 people in February 2010 either as a direct result of the avalanche or through being trapped.
In 1955, Afghanistan and the Soviet Union
signed an agreement to initiate joint development of the Salang road, initially via the historic Salang Pass route. The tunnel was opened in 1964 and provided a year-round connection from the North and the Soviet Union to Kabul
. The tunnel was the highest road tunnel in the world until 1973, when the United States
built the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel — just slightly higher and slightly longer — in the Rocky Mountains
. (Another higher tunnel in Tajikistan
remains incomplete.)
In 2010, it was noted that about 16,000 vehicles pass the tunnel daily.
killed 64 Soviet soldiers and 112 Afghans; apparently after a collision, a tanker truck blew up in the tunnel and the fire engulfed a military convoy. Other sources offer some variation in the number of fatalities; for example the Guinness Book of World Records 2007 cites a figure of "about 176".
After the 1989 Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, maintenance suffered, and eventually, in the course of combat between the Afghan Northern Alliance and the Taliban in 1997–1998, the tunnel's entrances and ventilation system were destroyed, so that it could only be crossed by foot in the dark. After the over throw of the Taliban led government, a joint effort between agencies from Afghanistan, France, Russia, the United States and others cleared the mines and debris and reopened the tunnel on January 19, 2002.
at its southern end. While most people were rescued, fatalities occurred due to asphyxiation and freezing. After further rehabilitation, in July 2004, the tunnel could carry two-way traffic.
Hundreds of cars were buried in the snow. More than 150 people are expected to have been killed in
total, according to officials. At least 400 injuries were reported.
The Afghan National Army
and NATO used their helicopters to rescue at least 2,500 people who were trapped inside their vehicles.
The avalanches were caused by a sudden blizzard that struck the area, closing the tunnel and the roads around it on both side of the tunnel.
The tunnel was reopened on February 12, 2010.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
crossing the Hindukush mountain range under the difficult Salang Pass.
The Salang Tunnel is the only pass going in a north-south direction to remain in use throughout the year.
It is known for a deadly fire
Salang tunnel fire
The Salang tunnel fire occurred on 3 November 1982 in Afghanistan's Salang tunnel during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Details are uncertain, but the incident may have been the deadliest known road accident, and one of the deadliest fires of modern times.- Overview :The Salang tunnel,...
which occurred in November 1982, and several avalanche incidents. A series of avalanches
2010 Salang avalanches
The 2010 Salang avalanches consisted of a series of at least 36 avalanches that struck the southern approach to the Salang tunnel, north of Kabul, Afghanistan on February 8 and 9, 2010, burying of road, killing at least 172 people and trapping over 2,000 travellers...
led to the deaths of as many as 172 people in February 2010 either as a direct result of the avalanche or through being trapped.
Overview
The tunnel represents the major north-south connection in Afghanistan, cutting travel from 72 hours to 10 hours and saving about 300 kilometres (186.4 mi). It reaches an altitude of about 3400 metres (11,154.9 ft) and is 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) long. The width and height of the tunnel tube are 7 metres (23 ft).In 1955, Afghanistan and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
signed an agreement to initiate joint development of the Salang road, initially via the historic Salang Pass route. The tunnel was opened in 1964 and provided a year-round connection from the North and the Soviet Union to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
. The tunnel was the highest road tunnel in the world until 1973, when the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
built the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel — just slightly higher and slightly longer — in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. (Another higher tunnel in Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
remains incomplete.)
In 2010, it was noted that about 16,000 vehicles pass the tunnel daily.
1982 fire
During the Soviet-Afghan war, the tunnel was a crucial military link to the South yet prone to ambushes by the mujaheddin. On November 3, 1982 the Salang tunnel fireSalang tunnel fire
The Salang tunnel fire occurred on 3 November 1982 in Afghanistan's Salang tunnel during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Details are uncertain, but the incident may have been the deadliest known road accident, and one of the deadliest fires of modern times.- Overview :The Salang tunnel,...
killed 64 Soviet soldiers and 112 Afghans; apparently after a collision, a tanker truck blew up in the tunnel and the fire engulfed a military convoy. Other sources offer some variation in the number of fatalities; for example the Guinness Book of World Records 2007 cites a figure of "about 176".
After the 1989 Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, maintenance suffered, and eventually, in the course of combat between the Afghan Northern Alliance and the Taliban in 1997–1998, the tunnel's entrances and ventilation system were destroyed, so that it could only be crossed by foot in the dark. After the over throw of the Taliban led government, a joint effort between agencies from Afghanistan, France, Russia, the United States and others cleared the mines and debris and reopened the tunnel on January 19, 2002.
2002 avalanche
Several weeks after reopening several hundred people were trapped in the tunnel due to an avalancheAvalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
at its southern end. While most people were rescued, fatalities occurred due to asphyxiation and freezing. After further rehabilitation, in July 2004, the tunnel could carry two-way traffic.
2009 avalanches
Avalanches in the approach to the tunnel killed at least ten people in January 2009.2010 avalanches
On February 8, 2010, a series of at least seventeen avalanches struck the area around the tunnel, burying miles of road, killing dozens of people and stranding hundreds more.Hundreds of cars were buried in the snow. More than 150 people are expected to have been killed in
total, according to officials. At least 400 injuries were reported.
The Afghan National Army
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
and NATO used their helicopters to rescue at least 2,500 people who were trapped inside their vehicles.
The avalanches were caused by a sudden blizzard that struck the area, closing the tunnel and the roads around it on both side of the tunnel.
The tunnel was reopened on February 12, 2010.
External links
- World's highest road tunnels
- Resurrection for Afghan tunnel - BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- Rebuilding Afghanistan: Opening the Salang Tunnel - from the United States Agency for International DevelopmentUnited States Agency for International DevelopmentThe United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
- Photos of Salang Tunnel avalanche
- Photos of road to Salang Tunnel