KABUL, Jun 23 (NNN-ANA) – The death toll from an earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan early yesterday, has reached 920, while more than 600 people were injured, a disaster official said, adding, the number of casualties might rise further.
“The death toll of the quake reached 920 and at least 620 were wounded,” Deputy to State Ministry for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs, Mawlawi Sharafuddin Muslim, said.
The official noted that, the number of casualties may further rise, as the quake destroyed scores of houses in the mountainous region, and several people were still trapped under the debris.
Gayan district in Paktika province, and Sapari district of neighbouring Khost province, were the worst-hit areas.
The disaster and humanitarian body planned to pay 100,000 afghani (about 1,124 U.S. dollars) to the family of any individual killed, and 50,000 afghani (about 558 U.S. dollars) to anyone injured in the earthquake, according to Muslim.
The quake, with a magnitude of 5.9, jolted 44 km south-west of Khost, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake jolted mountainous areas, and the Ministry of Defence dispatched seven helicopters with life-saving equipment and medical personnel to the area, while medical and rescue teams were also on the way to the affected areas, the ministry said on Twitter.
More than 300 ambulances reached the affected areas, according to local sources.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), also dispatched rescue workers, health teams and volunteers, to help those affected by the earthquake, the agency wrote on Twitter.
“The ARCS is transferring blankets, tents, kitchen utensils, medicine, water bottles, and food items, to the earthquake areas of Khost and Paktika provinces, from their HQ warehouses in Kabul,” it said.
World Health Organisation (WHO), country office in Afghanistan, also sent medical teams to provide assistance to the affected people.
WHO sympathises with families of those who lost their lives and livelihoods, from the earthquake. WHO Teams are on the ground to support immediate health needs, provide ambulances, medicines and trauma services and conduct needs assessment.– NNN-ANA
