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Two quakes rock east Afghanistan | Two quakes rock east Afghanistan |
(30 minutes later) | |
Two moderate earthquakes have hit eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 19 people and destroying dozens of homes, officials say. | Two moderate earthquakes have hit eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 19 people and destroying dozens of homes, officials say. |
The US Geological Survey says a 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 0157 local time (2127 GMT), followed by a 5.1-magnitude aftershock two hours later. | The US Geological Survey says a 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 0157 local time (2127 GMT), followed by a 5.1-magnitude aftershock two hours later. |
The quakes struck in Nangarhar province, about 50 miles (80km) east of Kabul near the Pakistan border. | The quakes struck in Nangarhar province, about 50 miles (80km) east of Kabul near the Pakistan border. |
At least two villages were reported to have suffered serious damage. | At least two villages were reported to have suffered serious damage. |
The interior ministry in Kabul and provincial officials put the death toll at 19, while local police said at least 20 had been injured. | The interior ministry in Kabul and provincial officials put the death toll at 19, while local police said at least 20 had been injured. |
"The police started work this morning. All the 19 dead bodies were picked up by police," ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashari told the AFP news agency. | "The police started work this morning. All the 19 dead bodies were picked up by police," ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashari told the AFP news agency. |
"The work is going on and the rubble is being removed to try to find more dead bodies or injured people." | "The work is going on and the rubble is being removed to try to find more dead bodies or injured people." |
Villagers told reporters that the death toll was higher. | Villagers told reporters that the death toll was higher. |
Quake-prone | Quake-prone |
Ahmad Shekib Hamraz, a disaster management official, told AFP news agency "the centre of the earthquake is located 45km (28 miles) from Sherzad district". | |
An earlier photograph of Sherzad district, said to have been hit | |
Survivors in Mir Gadkhel village were scrambling through the rubble of flattened houses to recover bodies after the quake, Reuters reported. | |
"Three of my family members were killed and seven are injured," villager Gul Mohammad said. | "Three of my family members were killed and seven are injured," villager Gul Mohammad said. |
"I think about 40 people have died. Hundreds of houses have been destroyed." | |
The earthquake is in a remote area that is difficult to reach by vehicle, the BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says. | |
The mountains of northern Afghanistan and Pakistan are hit by dozens of minor earthquakes every year. | The mountains of northern Afghanistan and Pakistan are hit by dozens of minor earthquakes every year. |
Because many Afghan homes are made of dried mud, even minor tremors can cause high casualties and widespread damage, our correspondent says. | Because many Afghan homes are made of dried mud, even minor tremors can cause high casualties and widespread damage, our correspondent says. |
A 7.6-magnitude earthquake that rocked north-west Pakistan in October 2005 killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million. | A 7.6-magnitude earthquake that rocked north-west Pakistan in October 2005 killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million. |