AFGHANISTAN: Regional earthquake claims at least three

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

KABUL, 10 Oct 2005 (IRIN) - At least two children and an adult were killed and a number of houses damaged in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar on Saturday, when the strong earthquake that devastated northern Pakistan and the divided region of Kashmir, was felt in Afghanistan, the United Nations confirmed on Monday in the Afghan capital Kabul.

There have also been reports of minor damage elsewhere. “In northeastern Badakhshan, a few houses were destroyed. We don’t have more information of casualties from there,” Kalanpari Saroesh, a public information officer for the United Nations Assistant Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said.

An estimated four million people have been left in dire need of food, shelter, water and medicine after Saturday's earthquake, which has left at least 20,000 people dead and 42,000 injured over much of northern Pakistan and parts of the divided region of Kashmir.

According to Dad Mohammad Raasa, a press officer for the interior ministry, there had been no reports of casualties from other parts of the country, although reports from many parts of eastern Afghanistan have yet to be received.

The last major quake to hit Afghanistan measured 7.2 on the Richter scale and devastated the northeast of the country in March 2002, killing nearly 2,000 people.

[ENDS]