Afghanistan Earthquake: At Least 1,000 People Killed And Over 1,500 Injured

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A massive earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan overnight Wednesday, killing more than 1,000 and injuring more than 1,500, government officials said.

The earthquake flattened homes while many people were sleeping, with its epicenter in the mountainous area near the country’s border with Pakistan — about 27 miles from the city of Khost — according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which put the magnitude at 6.1.

Tremors were also felt in Pakistan and India, according to Pakistan’s National Seismic Monitoring Center.

Maulawi Sharafuddin Muslim, acting deputy minister for the country’s disaster management authority, said at a news conference that “some villages have been completely destroyed.” Muslim said he was relaying information from rescue officials and was “waiting for the details about the damages to houses.”

He said an emergency cabinet meeting had been convened and that Afghanistan’s prime minister was leading the response, working with state institutions and ministries to coordinate rescue and relief efforts.

The government will allocate about $11 million in aid, Muslim said, with about $1,000 to be given to families of the deceased and $500 each to the injured.

Source:Washington Post

Comments

In The Spotlight

On Saturday night, the starboy 'himself' Wizkid, held a music concert in Lagos. Wizkid and Olamide, Nigeria's mega music superstars, thrilled fans to a fantastic concert in Lagos. The concert as part of a music world tour by Wizkid, featured the likes of Olamide, Fireboy and Lojay. Their performance at the concert was electrifying. Olamide and Wizkid, performed songs, they did together in the past, their old songs. Thereby, settling rumours of 'bad blood' between the two as perceived by fans. Wizkid appreciated Olamide and reminisced on old times when they were still struggling. He said: “We’ve come so far from that life, I remember when we did that song ‘Omo Toh Shan’. “We thank God for our lives my brother.” The latest music sensation known as 'Portable', also performed. He was sprayed with foreign currency by Wizkid as he performed on stage with Olamide. They all gave a spectacular performance for the night. 'Portable' is known for his hit son...

Breaking: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Campaign DG Has Left The All Progressive Congress, APC.

Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, the Campaign Director General of APC frontline presidential aspirant, Ahmed Tinubu, has left the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC. He made his decision known via his Twitter handle. He tweeted, “I have done my best for APC. Its time to move on. I will announce my new political party within the next 24 hours insha Allah. I will make a formal statement in due course. Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin.” Jubril in the last weeks aggressively campaigned for Tinubu. On several platforms, he asserted his position on a Southern presidency. During an interview with Arise Television, Jubril made the following remark, “I don’t think APC will try to toy around with that matter. I believe confidently that the Presidency is going to the Southern part and, when it goes there, Asiwaju stands out clearly in terms of experience, pedigree and competence and most importantly, the ability to win the election. His gap is quite huge more than anybody else". "Well 24 hou...

Attahiru Jega - ASUU Strike Turned Into A Personal Quarrel

Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has accused Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, of taking the industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) personal and turning it into a private dispute. Speaking on Tuesday during a programme on Arise TV, Jega said Ngige is creating more problems than solutions. He alleges that Ngige is having a personal quarrel with the minister of education and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Jega said; "Unfortunately, right now, the minister of labour is not helping matters. He has turned this into a personal quarrel between him and the minister of education on one hand and between himself and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the other. “While many other people are trying to find a way of addressing this situation so that students can go back to school and ASUU can go back to work, he is busy creating challenges. “He now took the matte...

Welcome To Echo Blog

Search This Blog