Afghanistan Earthquake leaves 1000 dead and 1500 injured

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Afghanistan gets hit by a powerful earthquake that kills 920 people and about 600 people were injured. Officials are warning that the death number might increase. The magnitude of the earthquake was 6.1. 

The recovery process will be complicated because of infrastructural complications. Officials state that poor infrastructure might be one of the big reasons for such a huge death toll. The epicentre of the earthquake was Paktika province. The location is almost near the border and about 31 km from Khost city. The location is 30 km away from Datta Khel, Pakistan. 

The earthquake occurred around 1:30 am local time (9:21 GMT). People were sleeping in their homes due to which the relocation could not be done within time. The earthquake has left. Local footage shows men carrying people away to the waiting helicopters on an urgent basis. People have majorly died being stamped. Maximum of the families were living in very unstable houses. 

The situation in Afghanistan has not been really smooth lately. The Taliban took over the government last year after the US military left the country in an utter mess. This will be a huge test for the Taliban government in recent years. 

The infrastructure of buildings in those areas has been particularly fragile. An earthquake of that magnitude would not damage majorly in most countries. But, the geographical location which happens to be mountainous makes the infrastructures weak. 

General director of state-run Bakhtar news agency, Abdul Wahid Rayan stated around 2000 blankets, 800 tents and 800 kitchen kits have been sent to the affected area. He also stated that this earthquake is very similar to 2002 when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake killed nearly 1000 people. That was a time for another government change. US government has thrown away the Taliban. 

Bilal Karimi, a spokesperson for the Taliban government has requested for aid team on Twitter. UN resident Ramiz alakbarov stated that a response is on it’s way. 

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