Afghan earthquake: 1,000 people killed says official
A powerful earthquake struck a remote border region of Afghanistan overnight killing at least1000 people and injuring thousands more, with the toll expected to rise as rescuers dig through collapsed dwellings.
The 5.9 magnitude quake struck hardest in the rugged terrain of the east, where people already lived hardscrabble lives in a country in the grip of a humanitarian disaster made worse by the Taliban takeover in August.
Government spokesman, Mohammad Naeem said, the earthquake happened at the provinces of Paktika and Khost.
The head of information for Paktika province, Mohammad Amin Hazifi, told newsmen that 1,000 people had died and 1,500 are injured.
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Earlier, another spokesman told newsmen that many houses were damaged and people were still trapped inside.
“The local markets are closed and all the people have rushed to the affected areas,” he told reporters by telephone.
Even before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan’s emergency response teams were stretched to deal with the natural disasters that frequently struck the country. But with only a handful of airworthy planes and helicopters, an immediate response is often limited.
Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
Afghan earthquake: 1,000 people killed says official
Scores of people were killed and injured in January when two quakes struck rural areas in the western province of Badghis, damaging hundreds of buildings.
In 2015, more than 380 people were killed in Pakistan and Afghanistan when a 7.5-magnitude earthquake ripped across the two countries, with the bulk of the deaths in Pakistan
The latest earthquake comes at a time when Afghanistan is battling a severe humanitarian disaster, worsened by the Taliban takeover of the country.
Communication following the quake is difficult because of damage to mobile phone towers and the death toll could rise further still, another local journalist in the area told the BBC.
“Many people are not aware of the well-being of their relatives because their phones are not working,” he said. “My brother and his family died, and I just learned it after many hours. Many villages have been destroyed.”
In remote areas, helicopters have been ferrying victims to hospitals.
Speaking to journalist, a doctor from one of the worst hit districts in Paktika province said medical workers were among the victims.
“We didn’t have enough people and facilities before the earthquake, and now the earthquake has ruined the little we had,” they said. “I don’t know how many of our colleagues are still alive.”