Over 2,000 killed as earthquake hits Afghanistan

At least 2,000 people have been killed and more than 9,000 injured after a powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan.

According to Reuters, the death toll was given by Mullah Janan Sayeeq, a spokesperson for the ministry of disasters.

Sayeeq said 2,053 people are now dead, 9,240 injured and 1,329 houses have been damaged or destroyed.

The quakes were said to have hit 35 km (20 miles) north-west of the city of Herat, with one measuring 6.3 magnitude.

The United Nations had given a preliminary figure of 320 deaths on Saturday but later said the figure was being verified.

In an update, the UN had said 465 houses had been reported destroyed and a further 135 damaged.

“Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to rise as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings,” the UN said.

A health department official said more than 200 bodies have been taken to hospitals, most of them women and children.

“Bodies had been taken to several places — military bases, hospitals,” the official said.

In 2022, at least 1,000 people were confirmed dead after a magnitude 6.1 earthquake erupted in Afghanistan.

Another 1,500 were injured in the disaster which hit the south-eastern city of Khost.

The earthquake led to the destruction of several properties and at the time, it was described as the deadliest to hit Afghanistan in two decades.