The death toll from the earthquake in Afghanistan has risen to more than 900
Taliban officials say the death toll from the quake in Paktia and Khost provinces has risen to 920.
The quake killed 920 people and injured 610 others in the Paktia, Khost and Nangarhar provinces, Sharafuddin Muslim, Deputy Minister of Accident Management told a news conference today.
The quake, which was reported to be the capital of Khost province, struck around 1:30 a.m. this morning and shook parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The US Geological Survey reported a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter scale.
Following the quake, the Taliban cabinet also held an emergency meeting to address the victims and injured.
The group’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, tweeted that the meeting was chaired by Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhand, and that all relief agencies were tasked with caring for the quake victims.
