Strong quake kills at least 280, injures 595 in Afghanistan

Kabul: At least 280 people were killed and 595 injured after an earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Paktika province early on Wednesday, the state-run media reported.
Some 255 people lost their lives in Barmal, Ziruk, Naka and Gayan districts of Paktika province, the most-hit eastern province, state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported, citing the latest local sources.
Helicopters and rescue teams have arrived in the affected areas. In neighbouring Khost province, at least 25 people were killed and 95 others wounded, the report said.
Also Read Afghanistan earthquake kills at least 155 people The quake, with a magnitude of 6.1, jolted 44 km southwest of Khost, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake has damaged dozens of houses in the region and also caused land sliding in Paktika, local sources said.
Local officials say the death toll could rise if the central government did not provide emergency help.