An earthquake leaves a trail of destruction in Afghanistan, 1000 dead

KABUL/PESHAWAR:

BUT powerful earthquake struck remote the border region of Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan at night killing at least 1000 people and wounding 1,500 more, officials said on Wednesday, with loss is expected rise while desperate rescuers dig into the ruined dwellings.

Taliban government officials said that at home reduced to rubble and bodies in blankets lie on ground after strong shocks. An unknown amount of people left stuck under the rubble and in remote areas, they added.

“People are digging grave after grave,” said Amin Hudhaifa. head of department of information and culture in hard-hit province of Paktika, adding that at least 1,000 people died in only this province. He said more than 1500 people were injured, many in critical condition.

We believe that around 2000 homes are destroyed”, – UN Humanitarian Coordinator. for This was reported to journalists by Ramiz Alekperov in Afghanistan. This was stated by the supreme leader of the country Hibatulla Akhundzade. death loss is likely rise farther.

rescue work was complicated difficult conditions, including torrential rains, landslides and numerous villages sheltering in inaccessible hillsides. Taliban-led ministry of The defense said it leading rescue efforts.

Loretta Heber Girardet from UN disaster risk decline office said relief and rescue efforts people trapped under rubble face huge challenges because of the terrain and weather.

“Roads are bad even on best of times therefore, the conduct of a humanitarian operation in place immediately faced with the absence of light access to area”, she said, adding that the rain combined with trembling created further risk of landslides for rescuers.

Ministry of the Interior official Salahuddin Ayubi said that death losses from the deadliest earthquake in country since 2002, most likely rise “like some of villages in remote areas in mountains, and it will take some time to assemble the parts.”

The earthquake occurred about 44 kilometers southeast of city of Khost, near the border with This is reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The aftershocks were also felt in This was reported at the European Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.

In Pakistan, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stated that at least two people lost their lives and four houses were partially damaged by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake and heavy rainfall.

According to PDMA, one person identified as Kashif Khan, resident of Darra Pezzu in Lucky Marwat died when the roof of his room collapsed due to the push, adding that one Mashal Shah of Novshera district died also of roof collapse due to heavy rain.

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The EMSC estimated the quake’s magnitude at 6.1, while the USGC and Pakistan’s PDMA reported it at 5.9. Experts say poor, hilly areas hit by the quake were especially vulnerable because of landslides and bad-built at home.

So far, the Afghan province of Paktika has suffered the most. “All houses in our area we are destroyed no one but the whole region was destroyed”, – said Gul Faraz, paktika. native, who lost some of his relatives. Around 25 people we dead and 90 wounded in Khost province.

Afghanistan also struggle with severe economic crisis. A lot of countries imposed sanctions on Banking sector of Afghanistan and cut billions of dollars in development to help. However, humanitarian aid continued from international institutions such as the UN.

Earthquake further complicated in challenge for Afghan authorities after recent floods in many regions that have blocked sections of highway. A spokesman for the Afghan Foreign Ministry said the Taliban welcomed international help.

” government works within its capacity,” Anas Haqqani tweeted. senior Taliban official. “We hope that the international community and aid agencies also help our people in this terrible situation.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the United Nations was fully mobilized, assessing needs and providing initial support. “We believe on in international community to help support Afghan families. Right now for solidarity,” he said. in statement.

In Washington, the White House said that President Joe Biden instructed the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and other federal government partners to gauge the US response options.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expresses sorrow in Islamabad over loss of lives because of the earthquake in Afghanistan and promised to help the victims. people. He said that Pakistan will provide everything possible help people of Afghanistan.

“We with our Afghan brothers and sisters in at this difficult time,” Shehbaz said, adding that he had given directives to the Pakistani authorities. concerned provide necessary humanitarian assistance government of Afghanistan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs also extended condolences over loss of life in Afghanistan. “Our authorities and institutions are working to extend required aid to Afghanistan in coordination with their respective institutions,” the statement said. in statement.

Rawalpindi Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) news The release states that the Armed Forces of Pakistan was ready to extend everything possible humanitarian aid people of Afghanistan, facing hard life and property losses due to natural disasters.