Worst earthquake in two decades in Afghanistan, rain increases misery; might cause 1000 deaths from a single province, says authorities

KABUL: The worst earthquake in Afghanistan in two decades struck on Wednesday morning. The earthquake, which measured six on the Richter scale, killed at least 1,000 people and injured 1,500, as per the officials. But the current situation shows that the actual figure might be double than that. Streets and buildings collapsed in the earthquake. Efforts are on to rescue those trapped. Senior Taliban leader Anas Haqqani said the government was doing its best.

India expressed condolences to victims of Afghan earthquake. Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said that the government would provide all necessary assistance and support. Mohammed Amin Husseifa, head of the information and cultural division of the province, said that the earthquake had killed more than 1,000 people in the devastated Paktika province alone. He said raining continues in the area and thousands of people were still trapped under the rubble.

Taliban leaders say that even the survivors and rescue workers are rushing to help the needy. In the countryside, almost all the houses made of mud and dirt are completely destroyed.