The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is leading an inter-agency assessment team deployed to Qadis District of Badghis Province in Afghanistan following the 5.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the area on Monday.
Initial reports indicate that 26 people have been killed, four others injured. Hundreds of houses were damaged or destroyed. Heavy rains before the earthquake made mud-brick houses more vulnerable to damage, Xinhua news agency quoted OCHA as saying.
People whose homes have been damaged or destroyed are sheltering with relatives and other members of their communities. Preliminary reports indicate that food, shelter, and non-food items, and heating materials are most urgently needed.
In addition to the OCHA-led assessment team, aid agencies are providing initial emergency support in the form of hot meals, and distributing water purification tablets, hygiene kits, and water kits.
An earlier report said, Death toll from Afghan earthquake rises to 22.
The death toll from a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Afghanistan’s western province of Badghis has increased to 22, an official confirmed on Tuesday.
“The latest figures by our local sources showed that 22 people died and five others were wounded following Monday’s earthquake in Qadis district, the worst-hit area, ” Baz Mohammad Sarwari, director of information and culture for Badghis province, told Xinhua news agency.
At least 1,000 houses were destroyed in Qadis, neighbouring Muqur district as well as in the provincial capital Qala-e-Naw, according to the official.
“Local authorities were paying visits and monitoring the situation in affected areas in Badghis. They will try to coordinate the delivery work of relief assistance to the affected people,” the official said.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 hit 40 km east of Qala-e-Naw city which borders Turkmenistan.
The epicentre, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 34.9479 degrees north latitude and 63.5686 degrees east longitude, it said.
Several aftershocks were also felt in the region.