Afghan gov't to shift critically wounded quake victims to Kabul: official

The Afghan government on Tuesday announced that the victims of Monday's massive earthquake in far-flung areas, who sustained critical wounds, will be shifted to the capital Kabul.

"Government's efforts are underway to assess the damages caused by the quake. The critically wounded people will be transported by the Afghan National Security and Defense forces and Afghan air force to Kabul and other equipped hospitals," presidential spokesman Sayed Zafar Hashemi told reporters.

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake with a depth of 210 km hit the Hindu Kush mountain range in northern Afghanistan at 0909 GMT on Monday, with strong tremors felt in Pakistan and India.

The death toll of the event in the mountainous country has risen to 115 while the number of injuries has gone up to 538, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said earlier on Tuesday.

A total of 7,630 homes, 12 schools, 17 mosques, 20 office buildings have been confirmed damaged in nine provinces by the natural disaster, president Ghani said.

"Nearly all damaged buildings and houses have been spotted. President Ghani is in contact with local authorities and disaster management officials who are collecting information and working how to provide assistance to the victims in hit provinces," Hashemi noted.

"Now, it is the time to boost the morale of the people, particularly the children. We must ensure them that the government is prepare and ready to provide assistance for people at this critical period of time," he said.

A bout 12 girl student lost their lives as a result of stampeded in a school in northern Takhar province shortly after the quake.

Earlier on Tuesday, rescue and relief workers increased emergency response to victims of the deadly disaster in northern Badakhshan, Takhar, Baghlan and eastern Nuristan, Kunar, Laghman, Parwan and Kabul provinces. Enditem