No fewer than 812 people have been confirmed dead and 2,817 others injured following a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, spokesman for the Afghan interim government, said on Monday.
Zabihullah Mujahid said that the much of the devastation occurred in the Nurgal, Suki, Watapur, and Chapa Dara districts of Kunar province, with 800 confirmed deaths and 2,500 injuries.
In neighboring Nangarhar province, 12 people were killed and 255 were injured, while Laghman province recorded 58 injuries and Nuristan province saw four injuries.
The casualty figures are initial estimates and are likely to rise as evaluations progress, the official stated.
The rugged terrain has posed significant challenges for relief teams, but response units from relevant agencies have been deployed to the affected areas to expedite rescue operations and aid delivery to those trapped or in need, Mujahid added.
The earthquake struck the eastern part of Afghanistan at 11:47 p.m. local time on Sunday, with the epicenter located 27 km northeast of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, at a depth of 8km.
