Kabul (Observer Guardian Agencies) Nearly 800 people have died and over 2,800 have been injured in Afghanistan’s deadly earthquake, according to local and government accounts.
According to a spokesman of the Afghan administration, the tremors in Kunar province totally destroyed three villages. 1,300 injuries and 610 fatalities were reported in the province alone.
According to the Ministry of Interior, there were 255 injuries and 12 fatalities in Nangarhar province. Authorities worry that as rescue efforts continue, the death toll may increase much further.
Afghanistan’s Khaama Press reports that the earthquake occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake had a depth of 8 kilometers and a magnitude of 6.0. The epicenter was in the province of Nangarhar, 27 kilometers east of the city of Jalalabad.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said on social media that the earthquake resulted in significant property and fatality losses. Rescue and relief activities are being aggressively carried out by local officials and civilians, he added.
The central government and other provinces have sent relief teams to help with rescue, evacuation, and restoration activities in the impacted areas, according to the Observer Guardian.
