Voice of America
22 Jun 2022, 16:36 GMT+10
Islamabad - The death toll continues to rise following a powerful earthquake in Afghanistan.
Taliban authorities said Wednesday quake had killed more than 900 people and injured at least 600 others in the country's southeast. Deputy Taliban Minister for Disaster Management Mawlawi Sharafuddin Muslim released the number of casualties at a news conference in the capital, Kabul, citing initial reports.
He said most of the devastation occurred in southeastern Paktika and Khost provinces, which border Pakistan.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the magnitude 6.1 quake struck during the early hours of Wednesday about 44 kilometers from the provincial capital of Khost.
Videos shared on social media showed flattened homes and rubble. The earthquake also rattled the capital, Kabul.
Taliban authorities said people were still under the rubble and rescue efforts, backed by helicopters, were underway. They also urged all aid organizations working in Afghanistan to help in the rescue operations. Ramiz Alakbarov, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, tweeted that his mission was "assessing the needs and responding in the aftermath of the earthquake last night which has taken hundreds of lives."
Tremors were reportedly felt across more than 500 kilometers of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre. Residents in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and the northwestern city, Peshawar, also felt the tremors but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Islamabad extended condolences and sympathies to Afghanistan over the devastation caused by the earthquake.
"Our authorities and institutions are working to extend required assistance to Afghanistan in coordination with their relevant institutions," said Pakistani foreign ministry statement.
Get a daily dose of Central Asia Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Central Asia Times.
More InformationDHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama turned 90 on July 6, celebrated by thousands of followers in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala,...
ZAGREB, Croatia: A massive concert by popular Croatian singer Marko Perković, known by his stage name Thompson, has drawn widespread...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Elon Musk's entry into the political arena is drawing pushback from top U.S. officials and investors, as his decision...
CULVER CITY, California: TikTok is preparing to roll out a separate version of its app for U.S. users, as efforts to secure a sale...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump claimed he was unaware that the term shylock is regarded as antisemitic when he used it in...
PARIS, France: A strike by French air traffic controllers demanding improved working conditions caused significant disruptions during...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama turned 90 on July 6, celebrated by thousands of followers in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala,...
HONG KONG: China has fired back at the European Union in an escalating trade dispute by imposing new restrictions on medical device...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...
Taipei [Taiwan], July 9 (ANI): In June, Taiwan's exports reached a new monthly high of USD 53.32 billion, marking the 20th consecutive...
The delay adds yet another twist to Trump's original 90 deals in 90 days promise -- so far yielding only two vague trade agreements...
Pallekele [Sri Lanka], July 9 (ANI): Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis slammed his sixth ODI hundred, which guided the hosts to a comfortable...