At least 800 killed in Afghanistan Earthquake

At least 800 people were killed in Afghanistan when a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the country.

Thousands were injured and the death toll was likely to rise, officials said.

Locals described the quake as one of the most powerful to hit the country.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at 11:47 p.m. local time (9:17 p.m. CET), which was centered 17 miles (27 kilometers) east-northeast of Jalalabad at a depth of 5 miles (8 kilometers).

Casualties were reported in the districts of Nur Gal, Sawki, Watpur, Manogi and Chapa Dara in Kunar province.

Roads leading to Dewa Gul in Sawki district and Mazar Dara in Nur Gul district were blocked by landslides.

At least two other earthquakes of magnitude 5.2 struck the same area after the big one, according to the USGS.

Surrounded by mountains, Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes because it sits near the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, one of the world’s most active seismic zones.

Many of the recent quakes have been shallow, increasing the intensity of the ground shaking and the extent of the damage.

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