Powerful earthquake kills at least 1,150 in Afghanistan (UPDATE)

BBC
Wed, 22 Jun 2022 11:44 UTC

© BAKHTAR NEWS AGENCY
Taliban officials and residents survey the damage to homes in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province after a major earthquake.

A powerful earthquake has killed at least 920 people and left hundreds more injured in Afghanistan, Taliban officials have said.

Pictures show landslides and ruined mud-built homes in eastern Paktika province, where rescuers have been scrambling to treat the injured.

In remote areas, helicopters have been ferrying victims to hospitals.

Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada said hundreds of houses were destroyed and the death toll was likely to rise.

Comment: Update June 24

The New Arab reports:

A devastating earthquake in crisis-hit Afghanistan this week resulted in at least 1,150 deaths, according to figures from state media on Friday.

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan continued to climb days after it turned brick and stone homes into rubble, killing 1,150 people and wounding scores more, according to the latest figures carried in state media on Friday.

The country of 38 million people was already in the midst of a spiralling economic crisis that had plunged millions deep into poverty with over a million children at risk of severe malnutrition.

The magnitude 6 quake has left thousands without shelter.

State media reported that close to 3,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged in Wednesday's earthquake.

Reader Comments

Psstoffgoy · 2022-06-22T12:19:59Z

It’s pretty sad, I couldn’t tell what exactly was damaged by the earthquake?

ReRan · 2022-06-22T13:17:45Z

Psstoffgoy Did the earthquake do more damage or the western invasion of 20 years? Sorry, being a bit cynical these days.

HashAttack2 · 2022-06-22T15:32:39Z

Psstoffgoy "mud-built homes" ... that's why all we see are collapsed stone buildings!

DeliciousTears · 2022-06-22T15:22:11Z

"Afghanistan, Turning rubble into gravel for 4 centuries!"

Baybars ·

DeliciousTears

· 2022-06-22T17:19:02Z

YesAllTruthHurts · 2022-06-24T21:19:17Z

Afghanistan got earthquaked. I fail to see how the people that have been pushed around for centuries and robbed blind, are deserving of all this tragedy. Maybe a little revenge for the losing to the Taliban?

DeliciousTears · 2022-06-25T06:01:43Z

YesAllTruthHurts Do you think earthquakes are somehow arbiters of fairness?

YesAllTruthHurts · 2022-06-25T13:21:15Z

DeliciousTears No, of course not. But I am aware that they can be triggered and are therefore not necessarily a natural occurrence.

On a more irrational note - I have asked myself that question before, especially witnessing the destructive forces of the ring of fire. It is a complex topic, but I like to add that the most dangerous areas on earth are inhabited by people who cannot afford (or even consider) to move to a 'safer' area.

In my own agony and pain, I still (or because of it) have empathy for those who are in greater troubles than I am. We are all going to die soon, anyways. But some peoples seem to having to endure much more hardship than others.

DeliciousTears · 2022-06-25T17:52:51Z

YesAllTruthHurts On the other hand many people choose to live in the shadow of greater objective natural hazards. Many cultures use these threats as a basis for their spiritual beliefs and in some sense, social cohesion.

So it's not pity or sorrow the Afghans want, but respect that they have persevered in this place through hundreds if not thousands of years.

"The Graveyard of Empires" should be below Afghanistan on every map.

YesAllTruthHurts · 2022-06-25T18:45:02Z

DeliciousTears No pity, but honest empathy.

I have lived in the flow field of a volcano for a long time. While I wasn't the only one living in close proximity to constant danger and indeed seeking the energy that is always present - the majority lived that close to the volcano because they could not afford to live in safer areas. Close to the lava an acre was about USD 3000 - 5000. At a safe distance, an acre was 50000 USD.

That might be true for other danger zones as well.

One thing is for sure - it never gets boring with the ground shaking 24/7 and the lava popping by every once in a while.

We could agree on everything being relative. "Graveyard of Empires" - because it is difficult enough 'to make a living' for the people that do live there. Those who seek to absorb Afghanistan - also absorb the graveyard.