At least 16 tourists died in freezing temperatures after being stranded in their vehicles in northern Pakistan, where thousands had traveled to enjoy the snow, officials said on Saturday.

Officials say there were about 1,000 vehicles stranded. “For the first time in 15 to 20 years such large number of tourists flocked to Murree, which created a big crisis,” Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan’s interior minister said a video message.

Army platoons and paramilitary forces have been deployed to help the civil administration in rescue operations, he said.

Late on Friday the government announced the closure of all roads leading to the station to stop any further influx of the tourists.