More than 2,000 dead after Afghanistan earthquakes, says Taliban
SKY NEWS UK
Sunday 8 October 2023 07:52, UK
The magnitude-6.3 earthquake which struck western Afghanistan was followed by several powerful aftershocks. Search operations are ongoing for people feared buried under rubble.
More than 2,000 people have died and thousands more are injured after powerful earthquakes hit Afghanistan on Saturday, according to the Taliban administration.
The ministry of disasters reported that 2,053 have been killed and a further 9,240 injured.
More than 1,300 houses have been destroyed, it added.
The latest death toll is a significant jump from yesterday when the UN gave a preliminary figure of 320.
The 6.3-magnitude quake hit the west of the country, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The epicentre was about 25 miles northwest of the city of Herat.
It was followed by three strong aftershocks, measuring 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5, the USGS reported.