Death toll from earthquake rises to 800 in Afghanistan, over 2,800 people injured
AKIPRESS.COM – The death toll from the powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has risen, Al Jazeera reports, citing government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Rescuers are continuing to search for survivors.
According to the latest figures, at least 812 people have been killed and 2,817 have been injured.
Military helicopters have transported hundreds of dead and wounded from remote areas, but difficult terrain and poor weather are hindering rescue efforts. The province of Kunar, where the earthquake’s epicenter was located, was the hardest hit. Humanitarian organizations estimate that more than 2,000 people were affected there.
Hospitals in Jalalabad are overwhelmed with victims from surrounding villages. The Red Cross has warned that the number of casualties will likely increase in the coming hours and days.
The government has allocated $1.46 million for emergency aid to those affected by the earthquake, adding that this amount can be increased if needed. A Taliban representative stated that there is an urgent need for field hospitals, shelter, food, and clean water.
6 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on the night of September 1. Its epicenter was 27 km northeast of Jalalabad, near the border with Pakistan, at a depth of 8 km.
