Rescue operations resume as Afghan quake kills over 800

Earthquake devastates Afghan villages. Photo - AP

Rescue operations resumed Monday after a devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, leaving more than 800 people dead, according to preliminary figures from the UN’s humanitarian agency.

The quake, centered in the remote and mountainous Kunar province, has flattened villages and trapped many under the rubble.

Officials warned the death toll could rise sharply as rescue efforts are being hampered by blocked roads, forcing helicopters to deliver aid and reach survivors.

Daniel Endres, the UN’s lead coordinator in Afghanistan, told the BBC that hot meals and blankets were being prepared for affected families.

The Taliban has appealed for international assistance, while the United Kingdom announced £1 million in relief support, clarifying that the funds would not be handled by the Taliban.

The quake struck at a shallow depth of just 8 kilometers (5 miles), making it particularly destructive. Tremors were felt as far away as the Afghan capital Kabul and Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. - Agencies