A powerful earthquake struck a rural, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border, early on Wednesday, killing at least 920 people and injuring 600 others, authorities said.
Pakistan’s Meteorological Department said the quake’s epicentre was in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, just near the border and some 50 kilometers southwest of the city of Khost.
Information remained scarce on the magnitude 6.1, that damaged buildings in Khost and Paktika provinces.
This unfortunate incident occured as the international community has largely left Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of the country last year and the chaotic withdrawal of the US military.
Relief efforts have therefore become complicated in the absence of good health infrastructure.
According to media reports, hundreds of others have been injured in the Barmala, Ziruk, Naka and Gayan districts of Paktika province.
Rescue teams were being sent by helicopters into the stricken areas.