Afghanistan: Over 800 dead, 2,500 injured after strong tremors

At least 800 killed, 2,500 injured as 6.0-magnitude earthquake devastated eastern Afghanistan near Pakistan border on Sunday night. The shallow tremor has destroyed multiple villages, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The quake, which hit the country at 11:47 pm, was centred 27 kilometres (17 miles) east-northeast of the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, the US Geological Survey said. An aftershock was also reported on Monday morning.Around 800 people were killed and 2,500 injured in remote Kunar province alone, chief Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. Another 12 people were killed and 255 were injured in neighbouring Nangarhar province, he added.

The Taliban authorities and the United Nations mobilised rescue efforts to hard-hit areas. Military rescue teams fanned out across the region, the defence ministry said in a statement, with 40 flights carrying away injured people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, which killed and injured hundreds of people. He affirmed that India stands ready to provide all possible aid and relief to the affected people.External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar expressed condolences on the deadly earthquake which struck Afghanistan, killing and injuring hundreds of people. The minister assured of Indian assistance to Afghanistan in this dark hour.