Around 500 houses destroyed in Khost; Victims transferred to other provinces
Islamic Emirate officials said that the death toll from Wednesday’s devastating earthquake in Paktika and Khost provinces has risen to about 1,100 and the number of injured has risen to 1,600.
The Ministry of State for Disaster Management said that more than 1,000 of the injured are in critical condition. The number of victims and injured is increasing day by day, as some people are still trapped in the wreckage.
Local officials and residents of Paktika said more than a thousand houses have been destroyed in the earthquake.
Residents of the impacted areas said they have lost all their belongings in the incident. Destitute families in Paktika province are asking humanitarian agencies and the government to provide immediate assistance for them.
“People have suffered a lot of causalities, lives have been lost, the earthquake has destroyed a lot of houses,” said a Paktika resident.
The relatives of the victims endured tough days and nights outdoors as a result of the destruction of homes in several Paktika regions.
“A lot of victims are still under the debris, we do not know how many people are left under the debris, there are up to 20 people martyred in every house,” a resident of Paktika told TOLOnews.
“People do not have tents, there is no food, people are living outdoors, they need everything,” a resident said.
Wednesday’s earthquake has disrupted the lives of everyone living in Giyan, Bermal and Ziruk districts of Paktika province.
Meanwhile, local officials in Khost province said that the death toll from Wednesday’s earthquake in the provide rose to 29 and the number of injured has risen to nearly 70.
According to local officials, more than 500 houses in the Spiri district of Khost province were destroyed.
Families of victims and those who were displaced due to the earthquake said they were unable to rescue their loved ones from the wreckage.
“Earthquakes have shaken this area. Now it is raining, everything is ruined, people are not able to rebuild their houses,” said Hakimullah, a victim of the earthquake.
Residents of Khost said they have suffered heavy financial losses and they called on the Islamic Emirate to address their problems as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, local officials in Spiri district say they are trying to help the families of victims and those affected by the earthquake.
“Around 500 houses have been destroyed, aid agencies and the government officials are trying to help people,” said Sultan Mohammad Ghaznawi, head of Spiri district.
The fatal earthquake in southeast Afghanistan that left over 1,000 people killed, and injured than 1,500 others, has sparked international reactions.
The Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he is “deeply grieved to learn about the earthquake in Afghanistan, resulting in loss of innocent lives. Relevant authorities working to support Afghanistan in this time of need,” he said.
The Vatican News reported that Pope Francis said he is praying for those who have lost their lives in the earthquake in Afghanistan.
The epicenter was 44km from Khost city, and it measured 6.1 on the richter scale, according to USGS.
The earthquake hit four districts of Paktika province, killing nearly 1,000 people and wounding more than 1,500, according to officials.
Local residents in Khost and Paktika province said they had to transport their injured to neighboring provinces such as Ghazni and Kabul, due to a shortage of space at local hospitals.
The families of victims of Wednesday’s earthquake called on the humanitarian agencies to provide urgent assistance to the people of the province.
“There are a lot of casualties, a lot of people died and many more were wounded, and a lot of people are still being pulled out,” said Abdullah, another resident of Paktika.
“My house is completely destroyed, my mother, son and wife have been martyred, one of my brothers is injured and in Kabul,” said Wadi Khan, a victim of the earthquake.
“I’m wounded–my brother, mother and one of my cousins died,” said Bakhtana, another injured person.
Meanwhile, the director of the Ghazni District Hospital, Ajab Khan Hamidi, said that the injured patients who were brought to the hospital are receiving life-saving treatment.
“After the first aid was provided, the patients needed general surgery and orthopedics and were referred to Ghazni District Hospital,” said Ajab Khan Hamidi, director of Ghazni District Hospital.
Officials of the Ministry of State for Natural Disaster Management said that so far more than 1,600 people were injured and the number is increasing.
