Deadly earthquake hits northern Afghanistan

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has shaken bluish Afghanistan, killing astatine slightest 20 people and injuring much than 500, a wellness authoritative says, adding that the numbers could increase.

The quake’s epicentre connected Monday was located 22km (14 miles) west-southwest of the municipality of Khulm, and it struck astatine 12:59am (20:29 GMT connected Sunday) astatine a extent of 28km (17 miles), the United States Geological Survey said.

Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, said 534 injured radical and 20 bodies had been brought to hospitals successful Balkh and Samangan provinces. Rescuers were connected the country and the figures were changing, helium added.

In the adjacent state of Badakhshan, the quake damaged oregon destroyed 800 houses successful 1 colony successful the Shahr-e-Bozorg district, said Ihsanullah Kamgar, spokesperson for the provincial constabulary headquarters.

However, owed to a deficiency of net work successful the distant area, determination were inactive nary close casualty figures, helium added.

Yousaf Hammad, a spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, said astir of the injured suffered insignificant wounds and were discharged aft treatment.

In the Afghan capital, Kabul, the Ministry of Defence announced that rescue and exigency teams had reached the quake-affected areas successful Balkh and Samangan, which suffered the astir damage, and were transporting the injured and assisting others.

The Defence Ministry said a rockslide concisely blocked a main upland road linking Kabul with Mazar-i-Sharif but the roadworthy was aboriginal reopened. It said immoderate radical who had been injured and trapped on the road were transported to hospital.