Greater than 800 individuals have been killed and a minimum of 2,800 others injured after an earthquake hit jap Afghanistan, in line with Taliban state officers.
The quake hit the nation’s rugged northeastern province of Kunar, close to the Pakistan border, at roughly midnight on Sunday, destroying a number of villages, officers mentioned.
Rescuers are persevering with to work in a number of districts of the mountainous province the place the quake hit, whereas officers within the capital metropolis of Kabul have warned the variety of casualties may rise.
Afghan disaster latest updates
Here is what we all know up to now.
What occurred?
A 6.0 quake hit Kunar at round 11.47pm native time (8.17pm UK time) on Sunday.
The quake’s epicentre was close to Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, at a depth of simply 5 miles (8km). Shallower quakes resembling these are likely to trigger extra injury.
Jalalabad is located about 74 miles (119km) from Kabul. It’s thought-about a distant and mountainous space.
The massive purple circle exhibits the earthquake close to Kabul. Pic: German Analysis Centre for Geosciences
A second earthquake struck in the identical province about 20 minutes later, with a magnitude of 4.5 and a depth of 6.2 miles (10km). This was later adopted by a 5.2 earthquake on the identical depth.
Properties of mud and stone have been levelled by the quake, with deaths and accidents reported within the districts of Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi and Chapadare, in line with the Kunar Catastrophe Administration Authority.
The primary quake hit 17 miles east-northeast of the town of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, the US Geological Survey mentioned. Jalalabad is a bustling commerce metropolis as a consequence of its proximity to a key border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Afghanistan earthquake map
It has a inhabitants of round 300,000 individuals, in line with the municipality, however its metropolitan space is believed to be a lot bigger.
Most of its buildings are low-rise constructions predominantly created from concrete and brick, although its outer areas embody properties constructed of mud bricks and wooden.
Variety of casualties excessive and space tough to entry, officers say
Sharafat Zaman, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s ministry of public well being, mentioned: “Rescue operations are nonetheless below manner there, and several other villages have been utterly destroyed.
“The figures for martyrs and injured are altering.
“Medical groups from Kunar, Nangarhar and the capital Kabul have arrived within the space.”
He mentioned many areas haven’t been capable of report casualty figures and that “numbers have been anticipated to vary” as deaths and accidents are reported.
Extra particulars on the aftermath in Afghanistan
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, mentioned: “Sadly, tonight’s earthquake has prompted lack of life and property injury in a few of our jap provinces.
“Native officers and residents are at the moment engaged in rescue efforts for the affected individuals. Assist groups from the centre and close by provinces are additionally on their manner.”
In accordance with earlier stories, 30 individuals have been killed in a single village, the well being ministry mentioned.
“The variety of casualties and accidents is excessive, however for the reason that space is tough to entry, our groups are nonetheless on web site,” mentioned well being ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman.
The Afghan Purple Crescent mentioned its officers and medical groups “rushed to the affected areas and are at the moment offering emergency help to impacted households”.
Quake measures barely decrease than the nation’s deadliest catastrophe
Afghanistan is liable to earthquakes, significantly within the Hindu Kush mountain vary, the place the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
The nation can also be one of many world’s poorest, having suffered many years of battle, with poor infrastructure leaving it significantly susceptible to pure disasters.
Sturdy earthquake in jap Afghanistan close to Pakistan border kills a whole lot. Pic: AP
Folks carry an earthquake sufferer on a stretcher to an ambulance at an airport in Jalalabad. Pic: Reuters
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake and powerful aftershocks struck Afghanistan on 7 October 2023.
The nation’s Taliban authorities mentioned a minimum of 4,000 individuals had been killed, however the United Nations mentioned the demise toll was round 1,500.
The 2023 earthquake is taken into account the deadliest pure catastrophe to hit Afghanistan in latest reminiscence.
A collection of different earthquakes within the nation’s west killed greater than 1,000 individuals final yr.
Catastrophe provides to ‘multiplicity of crises’ for Afghanistan
The earthquake is a “good storm” in a rustic that’s already struggling a “multiplicity of crises,” the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees has informed Sky Information.
Filippo Grandi mentioned the state of affairs within the nation was “very tragic” and added: “We’ve little or no info as of but, however already, stories of a whole lot of individuals killed and plenty of extra made homeless.”
“That is a rustic that’s already affected by a multiplicity of crises.”
He mentioned Afghanistan is affected by a “large drought”, whereas Iran has “despatched again nearly 2 million individuals” and Pakistan “threatens to do the identical”.
Ambulances put together to obtain victims of an earthquake. Pic: Nangarhar Media Centre/AP
“It is extraordinarily tough to mobilise sources due to the Taliban. So it is an ideal storm,” he added.
“And this earthquake, prone to have been fairly devastating, goes to simply add to the distress.”
He appealed to “all those that may also help to please do this”.
A overseas workplace spokesperson for the Afghanistan authorities mentioned no overseas governments have reached out to supply assist for rescue or aid work up to now.
