Islamabad 15 January

At least eight laborers were killed and several others went missing as a passenger van got buried by a landslide in Pakistan's north Kohistan district, local reports said Tuesday.

The landslide completely buried the van at a main highway late on Monday night, and the rescue operation started early on Tuesday morning by authorities and volunteers.

Police said that the van was carrying about 12 laborers who were on their way home from work.

Police said that the landslide was caused by heavy rains and snowfall that hit the area last week.

The highway was closed for the traffic following the accident, blocking the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province's road link with north Gilgit Baltistan region.

XINHUA