A powerful earthquake has killed at least 1,000 people and injured 1,500 in eastern Afghanistan, an official of the ruling Taliban told BBC.
Pictures show landslides and ruined mud-built homes in the province of Paktika, where rescuers have been scrambling to treat the injured.
The quake struck shortly after 01:30 a.m. (21:00 GMT) yesterday (22) as people slept.
Hundreds of houses were destroyed by the magnitude 6.1 event, which occurred at a depth of 51km (32 miles).
It is the deadliest earthquake to strike Afghanistan in two decades and a major challenge for the Taliban, the Islamist movement which regained power last year after the Western-backed Government collapsed.
The earthquake struck about 44 km from the city of Khost and tremors were felt as far away as Pakistan and India. Witnesses reported feeling the quake in both Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, and Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.
Taliban officials appealed to foreign aid agencies for help. They asked the UN to “support them in terms of assessing the needs and responding to those affected”, Sam Mort from UNICEF’s Kabul unit told BBC.
UK special representative to Afghanistan Nigel Casey said the UK was in touch with the UN and was “ready to contribute to the international response”.
(BBC)
At least 1,000 people killed and 1,500 injured in Afghan earthquake
23 Jun 2022
At least 1,000 people killed and 1,500 injured in Afghan earthquake
23 Jun 2022