The death toll from Monday’s earthquake in Afghanistan has risen to more than 340 with more than 1,800 injured.
The majority of the deaths reported to date – more than 200 – are located across the border in Pakistan but more than 100 deaths have also been recorded in Afghanistan and at least one in the Indian-administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the victims were 12 Afghan schoolgirls who died during a stampede to escape their school.
The earthquake, which the US Geological Survey said measured a magnitude of 7.5, struck in the Hindu Kush region of north-eastern Afghanistan, about 75 kilometres south of Faizabad, shortly before 3pm local time. As well as in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the effects of the quake were also felt in India and Tajikstan.
Experts have said the depth of the quake – estimated to have occurred more than 200 kilometres below the surface of the earth – meant it caused less damage than a shallower quake might be expected to but added that it was still a powerful event.
Afghan authorities have reportedly estimated about 4,000 houses were damaged or destroyed.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cut short a visit to London to return to Pakistan after the quake. He has since visited affected areas.
The earthquake follows one in 2005 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir which left more than 75,000 dead.
