Deadly earthquake takes toll on Afghan villagers
STORY: The magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck early on Wednesday (June 22) about 160 km (100 miles) southeast of Kabul, in arid mountains dotted with small settlements near the border with Pakistan.
Adbur Rahman said he lost 12 family members, including two of his wives, in the deadly quake.
“The quake suddenly happened at night. Our houses were destroyed. Twelve people of our family were martyred. Two were injured (my brothers),” he said.
Paktika province remains one of the worst-affected areas.
Poor communications and a lack of proper roads are hampering relief efforts in a country already grappling with a humanitarian crisis which has deteriorated since the Taliban took over last August.
The toll makes its Afghanistan's deadliest earthquake in two decades, according to U.S. government data.
