NewsGate Press Network

At least 920 people were killed in the early hours on Wednesday morning the 22nd of June 2022, after a powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan.

The location of impact was along the Durand Line alignment in Paktika province that separates Afghanistan and Pakistan .

The quake struck at 02.24 am local time and is reported to have reduced hundreds of houses in rural Afghanistan into rubble.

BBC quoted Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzad as saying that hundreds of houses were destroyed and the death toll was likely to rise.

His deputy minister for disaster management Sharafuddin Muslim said that 920 people were killed so far and 600 injured.

Taking to Twitter, Tailiban-appointed spokesman Bilal Karimi said, “Unfortunately, last night there was a severe earthquake in four districts of Paktika province, which killed and injured hundreds of our countrymen and destroyed dozens of houses.

“We urge all aid agencies to send teams to the area immediately to prevent further catastrophe.”