About 622 people were killed and more than 1,500 injured in the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, officials said on Monday. The helicopters took the injured to safe places with debris, where the survivors were being searched. The disaster will already put further pressure on the resources of the South Asian country, which is struggling with human crises, from a huge decline in assistance to a huge migration of citizens from neighboring countries.
The Taliban -run Afghan Home Ministry said in a statement that more than 1,500 people were injured in the 6 magnitude earthquake, causing the death toll to 622. Earlier, the government broadcast Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) had reported the death toll about 500. According to the National Earthquake Science Center (NCS), the 6.0 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale was recorded at 11:47 pm local time (12:47 am Indian time). Rescue operations continue in the most affected areas.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of 160 km in Eastern Afghanistan at 34.50 northern latitude and 70.81 Eastern longitude. The earthquake was felt in large parts of the region including Pakistan and Northern India, where residents of Delhi-NCR and other cities reported a strong earthquake.
The initial shock was followed by several shocks of 4.7, 4.3, 5.0 and 5.0 intensity, causing anxiety and loss in the affected areas.
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According to the Afghan Health Ministry, three villages in Kunar province were completely destroyed and many others suffered heavy losses. Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said, “According to data from a few clinics, more than 400 people have been injured and dozens of people have died.” He warned that as more information is revealed, the number of casualties may increase rapidly.
Provincial Information Chief Najibullah Hanif confirmed in Kunar that at least 250 people were killed and 500 were injured, although they admitted that these figures were initial. Initial reports said that 30 people died in the same village, and hundreds of injured were admitted to hospitals in nearby areas.
The weak infrastructure of the region, which was mostly made up of soil and stone houses, collapsed easily from the earthquake.
Till Monday morning, no foreign government had formally offered assistance. A spokesman for Afghanistan’s Foreign Office confirmed, “So far, no foreign government has extended a hand to provide assistance for rescue or relief work.”
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Afghanistan is located on a major seismic corruption line, where Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, making it one of the most earthquake-prone areas in Asia. The Hindu Kush mountain range has historically consistently and deadly earthquakes.
On October 7, 2023, a series of earthquakes came in the country – the highest intensity was 6.3 – which was the country’s deadliest natural disaster in recent years. According to AP, at least 4,000 people were killed in this disaster, but the United Nations stated the death toll, about 1,500.