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A strong earthquake flattens villages in northern Afghanistan

An earthquake in northern Afghanistan is thought to have killed about two-thousand people and injured 4,000.

The first shockwave measuring up to 6.0 on the Richter destroyed the town of Nahrin in Baghlan province, some 175 kilometres north of the capital Kabul.

Around 4,000 houses have been destroyed and 10,000 people have been displaced and made homeless. Most shops and houses in Nahrin were destroyed and many people have fled for the hills.

Devastating shockwaves continue to hit as the Afghan interim authority struggles to get help to the victims in the remote mountain regions amid reports that some 30 villages around the town of Nahrin, have also been destroyed.

A major rescue effort involving European troops with the International Security Assistance Force based in Kabul is underway, but Afghan officials say more help is needed urgently to prevent further deaths.

Jonathan Harley reports.

Aid agencies have already sent food and tents by helicopter along with cloth shrouds for the dead. But after-shocks are hampering relief efforts in an area with terrible roads, no communications or hospitals. At least two thousand houses have been destroyed and as many as 20 thousand people are homeless. The town of Nahrin in Baglan Province has suffered the worst damage, ita and 14 surrounding villages have been completely devastated. Jonathan Harley, New Delhi.

27/03/2002 13:05:57 | ABC Radio Australia News

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