Quake claims 51 lives, wounds 237 in E. Afghanistan

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale which struck parts of Afghanistan on Monday, have left 51 people dead and injured 237 others in eastern Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar and Laghman provinces, officials said on Tuesday.

In Kunar province, 185 km east of Kabul, 31 people have been confirmed dead and 105 others injured, Ghani Musamim, spokesman for the provincial government, told Xinhua.

Hundreds of houses have also been destroyed or partially damaged due to the quake, the official said.

Meanwhile, a statement released by Nuristan's provincial government on Tuesday confirmed the death of six persons and injuring 25 others.

According to the statement, 150 houses were completely destroyed and 138 others partially damaged in the mountainous Nuristan province.

One school was also destroyed as the result of the quake, the statement said.

Moreover, officials in Jalalabad said Tuesday that the earthquake had killed 10 people and injured 98 others.

However, a statement released by Laghman's provincial government has confirmed four death and nine injuries.

The statement said scores of houses were destroyed and damaged due to the earthquake.

Officials in the provinces say efforts are underway to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected families in the quake-hit areas. Enditem