Avalanches roared down a mountain pass north of Afghanistan's capital, killing at least 28 people and leaving hundreds more stranded in their vehicles on snow-blocked roads, officials have said.

Another 70 people were injured and transported to hospitals as the military and police continued rescue efforts to dig out those trapped in the snow, an Afghan Defence Ministry statement said. Some 1,500 people were rescued, it added.

The avalanches happened on Monday following heavy snows in the Salang Pass that links the Afghan capital with the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Parwan provincial police chief General Abdul Rahman Sayedkhail said rescuers worked through the night to save more than 200 people.

President Hamid Karzai ordered authorities to make every effort possible to quickly reopen the pass and provide aid to those in need.

In a statement, Mr Karzai ordered the ministries of public works, defence and disaster control to "use all possible means to get the roads unblocked and rescue those trapped and stranded in the heavy snow." He also expressed condolences to the families of the victims who were killed or injured.

About 500 Afghan soldiers were mobilised to join police and others in the rescue efforts, along with four helicopters, several ambulances and several bulldozers, Defence Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said. "Unfortunately there were more avalanches this morning, which made our work a little difficult, but we are trying to rescue people," he added.

Rescuers worked through the night to save more than 200 people, said Gen Sayedkhail, Parwan provincial police chief. "There's still danger from avalanches there so that's why our work is a little slow," Gen Rahman said.

Officials later said the death toll from the avalanches may rise as high as 70, as rescuers evacuated more than 400 injured.