Afghanistan earthquake: Death toll rises to 950 after tremor with 6.1 magnitude
The quake struck about 44km (27 miles) from the city of Khost in southeastern Afghanistan at a depth of 51km, according to the US Geological Survey
Rescue helicopter lands in Afghanistan after 6.1 magnitude earthquake
At least 950 people have died in an earthquake that struck Afghanistan’s Paktika province on Wednesday morning, officials said, almost quadrupling the death toll from earlier in the day.
A disaster management official said that another 610 people have been injured.
The quake struck about 44km (27 miles) from the city of Khost in southeastern Afghanistan at a depth of 51km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
“We urge all aid agencies to send teams to the area immediately to prevent further catastrophe.”
Rescue workers were arriving at the site by helicopter, reported the state-run Bakhtar news agency.
Photos and videos also showed people being rescued from the rubble in stretchers.
And another 6.1-magnitude earthquake, as well as subsequent tremors, in Afghanistan’s remote northeast killed at least 4,500 people in 1998.
Wednesday’s earthquake comes as Afghanistan reels under severe economic stress after the US withdrew its forces and the Taliban took control of the country last August.