(Reuters) -Greater than 800 individuals have been killed and hundreds extra injured as a serious earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan late on Sunday, one of many worst such disasters within the nation in recent times.
As authorities scramble to rescue survivors, here’s a take a look at what occurred, and the devastation the tremors induced.
WHERE DID THE QUAKE STRIKE?
The epicentre of the 6.0 magnitude quake, which occurred at 11:47 p.m. native time (1917 GMT) at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), lay close to the japanese metropolis of Jalalabad – among the many 5 largest cities in Afghanistan, and the capital of Nangarhar province.
Tremors have been additionally felt in different South Asian international locations, together with neighbouring Pakistan and India.
WHAT WAS THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE?
Greater than 800 individuals died and a couple of,800 others have been injured because the tremors buffeted a number of areas of Nangarhar and the neighbouring province of Kunar, the place three villages have been utterly flattened.
Each provinces are situated on Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan. Whereas Kunar, which alone recorded greater than 600 deaths, lies within the Hindu Kush mountain vary, Nangarhar is situated to the south of it.
WHAT KIND OF RESCUE EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE?
The Afghan Taliban authorities has mobilised a number of groups associated to safety, well being, transport and meals, amongst different domains, to make sure “complete and full assist” is offered to these affected.
At the very least 40 flights have been carried out to move our bodies and greater than 400 of the injured.
ARE EARTHQUAKES COMMON IN AFGHANISTAN?
The nation is vulnerable to devastating earthquakes and it skilled tremors with a magnitude of greater than 5.0 on not less than 4 events between April and August alone.
Sunday’s earthquake, nevertheless, is its worst since June 2022, when a 6.0 magnitude quake killed greater than 1,000 individuals.
WHY IS THE COUNTRY PRONE TO EARTHQUAKES?
Afghanistan is especially susceptible to earthquakes due to its location on the intersection of two main tectonic plates – the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate.
Because the Indian plate strikes northward and collides with the Eurasian plate, the stress between the 2 creates common seismic exercise within the area, particularly within the space of the Hindu Kush.
(Compiled by Sakshi Dayal; enhancing by Mark Heinrich)
