At least 255 dead after 6.1 magnitude earthquake jolts eastern Afghanistan

TIL Desk/World/Kabul/ At least 255 people have killed in an earthquake that struck the country’s eastern Paktika province. The state-run news agency reported the death toll Wednesday and said rescuers were arriving by helicopter.

Information remained scarce on the magnitude 6 temblor that struck Paktika province, but it comes as the international community largely has left Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of the country last year amid the chaotic withdrawal of the US military from the longest war in its history. That likely will complicate any relief efforts for this country of 38 million people.

Footage from Paktika province near the Pakistan border showed victims being carried into helicopters to be airlifted from the area. Images widely circulating online from the province showed destroyed stone houses, with residents picking through clay bricks and other rubble.

A severe earthquake shook four districts of Paktika province, killing and injuring hundreds of our countrymen and destroying dozens of houses, Bilal Karimi, a deputy spokesman for the Taliban government, separately wrote on Twitter. We urge all aid agencies to send teams to the area immediately to prevent further catastrophe.