The epicentre of the earthquake and how far it spread Photo Arabianbusiness
Afghanistan – A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan sending shockwaves that were felt in Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. At least 13 people have been killed while more than 200 people have been reported injured.
Sial Yousofi, News reporter of Shamshad TV based in Kabul, Afghanistan, the figures are likely to increase. The health ministry of Afghanistan has confirmed that four people were killed and 70 are wounded.
“It was a very heavy and strong earthquake. We felt two or three aftershocks … The health ministry says there are teams of doctors and such that are helping. They have been ordered to be ready for any and all situations … In some provinces we have damages to houses and some buildings were destroyed. Many people slept outside their house because they are fearful of the aftershocks that might happen.”
The situation in Pakistan
The earthquake’s epicentre was 40km southeast of the Afghan town of Jurm, near the border of Pakistan. Pakistan’s Meteorological Department put the magnitude of the earthquake at 6.8 and later reported a 3.7 magnitude aftershock. Nine people were killed when roofs collapsed in various parts of northwestern Pakistan according to Pakistan’s Rescue 1122 service. Landslides in the Swat district have caused damage to more than 20 buildings.
Yousofi has called on the international government to help the people of Afghanistan. While the country is still under sanctions, the people of Afghanistan should not suffer because of the government, he said.
“The people should not be punished because of the government to government relations. People deserve to eat, they deserve help. People of Afghanistan deserve to have a good economic situation and we need that kind of attention from the international community.”
To hear more about the earthquake from Sial Yousofi, listen to the podcast here:
