KABUL - More than 20 people were killed and dozens of others missing after an avalanche struck villages in the eastern Afghan province of Panjshir overnight Tuesday, sources said on Wednesday.

"More than 20 people, including women and children, died and dozens of others went missing as the result of heavy avalanche in several villages in Panjshir province at midnight," a provincial government official told Xinhua.

The number of casualties of the disaster may rise further, he said.

Local disaster officials failed to launch a rescue operation as roads in the province have been blocked by heavy snowfall.

The mountainous province with Bazarak as its capital is located 200 km north of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Parts of Afghanistan have seen heavy snowfall over the past weeks.