According to a Taliban official who spoke to the BBC, a strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has left at least 1,000 people dead and 1,500 injured.
Table of Contents
After a magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook isolated areas of southeast Afghanistan, almost 1,000 people were killed and 600 were injured.
According to the UN, about 130 injured persons have been taken to hospitals. Authorities claim that in underdeveloped areas, entire neighbourhoods have been damaged.
Although there were no initial reports of injuries or damage in the neighbouring nations of Pakistan and Iran, shocks could be felt there.
Pictures of landslides and destroyed mud-brick dwellings in the region of Paktika caused the Taliban to make a request for foreign assistance in the rescue operation.
As people slept, the earthquake occurred shortly after 1:30 am (21:00 GMT Tuesday).
It is the largest earthquake to hit Afghanistan in twenty years and poses a significant threat to the Taliban, an Islamist organization that reclaimed power last year after the Western-backed regime collapsed.
Nearby Pakistan and India were also affected by the earthquake, which occurred about 44 kilometers from the city of Khost.
Both Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, were reported as having felt the earthquake by witnesses.
China To Aid Afghanistan
Following today’s devastating earthquake, China says it is prepared to offer urgent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters at a regular briefing that no Chinese losses had yet been recorded but offered his condolences to the earthquake victims.
Wang Wenbin further told reporters “Afghanistan is a friendly neighbor of China, and China is willing to provide emergency humanitarian assistance according to the needs of the Afghan side,”.
Pope Francis Calls To Pray For Afghanistan
“In the last few hours, an earthquake caused victims and enormous damage in Afghanistan.
I would like to express my closeness to the injured and those who have been affected by the quake. And, in particular, I pray for those who lost their lives and their families,” Francis said as he calls the world to pray for those affected by the disastrous loss.
“I hope that with the help of all we can ease the suffering of the dear Afghan population,” he added. Pope Francis also made a call for assistance to all those who were impacted.
