Afghanistan is in shock. An earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday (9 p.m. GMT), very close to the border with Pakistan, according to the American seismological institute (USGS).
According to the Afghan government, at least 920 people were killed in this 5.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the province of Paktita in Southeast Afghanistan.
“So far, according to the information we have, at least 920 people have been killed and 600 injured,” the deputy minister of natural disasters, Sharafuddin Muslim, said at a press conference, quoted by the AFP agency.
“We are calling for help agencies to provide immediate help to the victims of the earthquake in order to avoid a humanitarian disaster,” said Bilal Karimi, government spokesperson.
Afghanistan is frequently struck by earthquakes, especially in mountainous chains.
