NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
At least 1,800 people were killed in a major earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale in northern Afghanistan on Monday night, the Afghan Islamic Press said on Tuesday.
The epicentre of the quake was around 120 km north of the Afghan capital Kabul.
"The earthquake caused devastation in the eastern parts of Baghlan province, particularly in Nahrin district," Minister for Water and Natural Resources Haji Mangal Hussain was quoted as saying in the report.
The minister said that the toll might rise, adding that search and rescue operations have started.
Some reports said that close to 4000 houses were destroyed and 10,000 people displaced due to the earthquake.
A report quoting a United Nations spokeswoman Rebecca Richards said that the worst affected was the town of Nahrin in Baghlan province where almost 200 houses were destroyed.
Richards said that emergency relief supplies such as blankets were being rushed to the remote area, where temperatures can fall below freezing at night.
A strong earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale hit Afghanistan and northern Pakistan on March 3, killing at least 70 people in Samangan province northwest of Baghlan and burying dozens of homes in landslides.
Two major earthquakes in February and May 1998 left some 9,000 people dead in remote notheastern Afghanistan.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
