Afghanistan's Total Death Toll Reaches 1,124 People

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION OF UNSPLASH/Alim Koray Cengiz

JAKARTA - The death toll from the worst earthquake in Afghanistan in recent years jumped to more than 1,100 on Tuesday. The difficult terrain hindered rescue efforts in remote villages in the country's eastern mountainous region.

It was reported that 1,124 people were killed, 3,251 people were injured, and more than 8,000 houses were destroyed, the Afghan Red Crescent said. It is feared that there are still many victims trapped under the rubble.

UN Coordinator in Afghanistan said the number of victims is likely to increase.

Afghanistan is prone to deadly earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountains, where tectonic plates of India and Eurasia meet.

The Richter earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter scale occurred around midnight local time on Monday, at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles). The provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar in the eastern part were the worst affected.

Rescue operations have been carried out in four villages severely affected in Kunar on Monday and rescue efforts will now be focused on reaching more remote mountainous areas, said the head of the Ehsanullah Ehsan province disaster management.

"We cannot accurately predict how many bodies may still be trapped under the rubble," Ehsan said.

"Our effort is to complete this operation as soon as possible and start distributing aid to affected families," he continued.

The mountainous field and bad weather prevented rescue teams from reaching remote areas along Pakistan's borders, where the quake razed hundreds of mud-story houses and bricks.

Access to vehicles along narrow mountain roads is a major obstacle, Ehsan said, adding that heavy equipment is being brought in to clear roads from the rubble.

On Tuesday, rows of ambulances were on a damaged mountain road, trying to reach Kunar villages, while helicopters flew in, carrying aid supplies and carrying the injured victims to the hospital, according to a Reuters witness.