World Events

Severe Earthquake in Afghanistan Leaves ‘At Least 280 Dead and 600 Injured’

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck vast areas of southeastern Afghanistan as well as parts of Pakistan early Wednesday, June 21.

According to Taliban government officials, the death toll from the incident in Afghanistan has been reported at around 280 people so far, but these officials have simultaneously emphasized that there is a “significant” possibility of an increase in the number of victims.

Some news sources, including the Taliban-affiliated government news agency “Bakhtar,” have reported that as a result of this earthquake, at least 255 people have died in the districts of “Paktika” province.

Bakhtar News Agency, citing Shabir Ahmad Osmani, the Taliban’s chief of information and culture in Khost, wrote that as a result of last night’s earthquake in the Spera district of this province, 25 people were killed and 95 others were injured.

No reports have yet been released on the extent of casualties in Pakistan, however the European Mediterranean Seismological Center announced that this earthquake was felt by approximately 119 million people in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of this earthquake was 44 kilometers from the city of “Khost” in southeastern Afghanistan and at a depth of 51 kilometers below the surface.

Residents of areas within a 500-kilometer radius of the earthquake’s epicenter also felt its tremors.

 

Source: Radio Farda

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