Kabul/New Delhi: At least 1,000 people were killed and thousands injured in four districts of southeastern Paktika province of Afghanistan in an earthquake of 5.9 intensity that hit the region around 1.30 am local time on June 22, 2022.
The quake also affected Khost and a number of other provinces of the country. The epicentre of the quake was 46 km South-West of Khost.
Most of the deaths were in Paktika, where 255 people had been killed and more than 200 injured, said interior ministry official Salahuddin Ayubi. In Khost province, 25 people had been killed and 90 taken to hospital, he said. Officials of 203 Mansoori Corps said that so far 100 injured were airlifted from Paktika province to Paktia Provincial Hospital.
The Afghan Ministry of National Defense sent helicopters with medical health aid to these locations to transport the wounded to military and civilian hospitals, Afghanistan’s official Bakhtar news agency reported.
Reports suggest that the Taliban appealed for international help for the rescue effort as pictures showed landslides and ruined mud-built homes in the province of Paktika.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the earthquake in Afghanistan and tweeted: “Deeply saddened at the news of the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan today. My deepest condolences on loss of precious lives. India stands by the people of Afghanistan in their difficult times and is ready to provide all possible disaster relief material at the earliest.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Iran was ready to assist the quake victims in Afghanistan.
– global bihari bureau
