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Roundup: Preliminary reports say 34 dead, 212 injured in Afghanistan's earthquake

Xinhua, October 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Preliminary reports collected across Afghanistan confirmed that 34 were killed and 212 injured due to the earthquake that struck parts of the country on Monday, said Ismael Kawasi, spokesman for public health ministry.

"The preliminary reports we have collected from different parts of the country have confirmed 34 dead and 212 others injured," Kawasi told Xinhua.

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck parts of Afghanistan including capital Kabul city at 01:39 p.m. local time on Monday.

According to the official, hundreds of houses have been destroyed or badly damaged.

The epicenter of the quake is said to be in Jarm district in the northern Badakhshan province.

Meanwhile, Gul Mohammad Bedar, deputy to governor of Badakhshan province has confirmed 14 dead and 71 others injured.

Najibullah Kamawal, director of public health department in eastern Nangarhar province, told media that seven dead and 72 injured of the quake victims have been taken to hospitals.

"Twelve students of Bibi Hajira girl school lost their lives as part of the school building destroyed due to the quake in Takhar province," spokesman for Takhar provincial government, Sunatullah Timor told Xinhua.

Speaking to local media, Minister for Natural Disaster Affairs, Wais Barmak said the number of casualties could increase as the concerned entities have been collecting reports on casualties and damage across the country.

He also said up to 450 houses were destroyed only in Badakhshan province.

According to the minister, the quake had injured some 40 people in Takhar province, 25 in Laghman and Nuristan provinces.

Barmak, however, said the Natural Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is ready to extend all kind of humanitarian assistance to the affected families in the affected areas.

Barmak also called upon national and international aid agencies as well as the ministries for defense and interior to be ready for providing and supplying assistance to the affected areas.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the government Abdullah Abdullah, presiding over the meeting of NDMA Monday afternoon, instructed the ministry for public health as well national and international aid agencies to get ready for extending cooperation with the quake-hit areas and affected people there.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has also issued directive that all government agencies should remain on standby to assist victims of the earthquake and carryout rescue operations if needed. Enditem