Last Friday, in Afghanistan's mountainous northeastern province of Badakhshan, an enormous landslide took place, burying much of a small village, and killing hundreds. Officials say that at least 300 residents of Abi Barik village were killed, but are uncertain about exact numbers, cautioning that the final number could be 500 or more. Rescue teams gave up hope on Saturday of finding any survivors, focusing energy on helping the hundreds suddenly made homeless. Many of the surviving families have struggled to get aid. Some have gone to nearby villages to stay with relatives or friends, while others have slept in tents provided by aid groups.

The buildings of the banking district are seen through thousands of rain drops on a glass railing in central Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, January 11, 2017. (Photo by Michael Probst/AP Photo)

An Airbus A380 aircraft prepares to land at Mumbai airport in this May 8, 2007 file photo. Sentiment at some of Asia's biggest firms deteriorated again in the fourth quarter, falling to a four-year low under the weight of concerns about slowing growth in China, the region's biggest economy, a Thomson Reuters/INSEAD survey showed. (Photo by Arko Datta/Reuters)

A Ukrainian service member shoots from a machine gun at a position on the front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of New York, Donetsk region, Ukraine on June 9, 2022. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

A couple poses for a joint photograph in a photo booth (photomaton) at a metro station in Paris on July 24, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP Photo)

In this image released on April 18, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town perform “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brent Harrington/CBS Handout via Reuters)

A baby turtle's perilous first moments are captured as it takes to the sea for the first time on Heron Island in Queensland, Australia in July 2022. Predators such as sharks, birds, and pollution mean that approximately only one out of every 1000 turtles that hatch make it to adulthood, with some not even reaching open ocean. Amateur photographer (Photo by Hannah Mitchell/Solent News & Photo Agency)

Though schools around the globe have different start dates, calendars and traditions, the first day of a new term is an exciting time filled with the prospects of gaining more knowledge, making new friends and building community. Here: Schoolchildren attend their first lesson on Knowledge Day in the town of Turov, Zhytkavichy District, Gomel Region, Belarus on September 1, 2017. Knowledge Day marks the beginning of a new school year in Belarus and is celebrated on September 1. (Photo by Viktor Drachev/TASS via Getty Images)