A powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake followed by strong aftershocks killed dozens of people in western Afghanistan , the country’s national disaster authority said.More than 2000 are reported to have died in the quake.
A spokesman of the Ministry of Information and Culture, said the death toll from the earthquake in Herat is higher originally reported.
About six villages have been destroyed, and hundreds of civilians have been buried under the debris, he said while calling for urgent help.
The United Nations gave a preliminary figure of 320 dead, but later said the figure was still being verified. Local authorities gave an estimate of 100 people killed and 500 injured, according to the same update from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The update also said 465 houses had been reported destroyed and a further 135 were damaged.
“Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings,” the UN said
