Earthquake hit the Afghanistan in decades in deadliest way on Wednesday. When a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the country’s east, killing more than 1,000 people and wounding many more.
The humanitarian disaster comes at a difficult time for the Taliban-ruled country. Currently the country is facing hunger and economic crisis.
The shocks hit at 1:24 a.m. local time on Wednesday (4:54 p.m. ET on Tuesday) around 46 kilometers (28.5 miles) southwest of the city of Khost. It lies close to the country’s border with Pakistan, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake registered at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to USGS. It designated it at yellow alert level — indicating a relatively localized impact. Most of the deaths were in Paktika province, in the districts of Giyan, Nika, Barmal and Zirok.
The death toll stands at more than 1,000 and at least 1,500 people have been injured “in Gayan and Barmal districts of Paktika province alone.
In neighboring Khost province, earthquake killed 25 and 5 people in Nangarhar province.
This comes as almost half the country’s population — 20 million people — are experiencing acute hunger, according to a United Nations-backed report in May. The government also highlighted the need for foreign aid.
