At least 255 people were killed by a major earthquake in Afghanistan. Photo: EFE
A strong 5.9 magnitude earthquake that shook Afghanistan in the early hours of this Wednesday and caused the deaths of at least 255 people in the east of the country and more than 500 injured, although the numbers are feared to increase.
The earthquake occurred in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan.
“At least 255 people were killed and another 500 injured in an earthquake in Barmala, Ziruk, Naka and Gayan districts of Paktika province,” Afghan state agency director Abdul Wahid Rayan reported on Twitter.
The earthquake was reported about 46 kilometers from the city of Khost, near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, according to the US Geological Survey agency.
While most of the deaths were reported in Paktika province, the districts of Barmala, Ziruk, Naka and Gayan were the hardest hit by the earthquake.
The powerful quake also hit Sapari district in Khost province, where 25 dead and 95 injured were reported, as well as Nangarhar province.
News in development
GRB
Source: Clarin
