More than 800 people killed by earthquake, Afghan government says

The death toll from the earthquake that has risen to over 800, the Taliban government spokesperson has said in an update, with the majority of deaths occurring in the remote Kunar province.

About 800 people died and 2,500 others were injured in Kunar, spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference in Kabul, adding that the toll of 12 dead and 255 injured in the Nangarhar province had not changed.

UN secretary general António Guterres has expressed his condolences to those affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan.

“I stand in full solidarity with the people of Afghanistan after the devastating earthquake that hit the country earlier today,” he said.

The UN said earlier on social media that its teams in Afghanistan are “delivering emergency assistance and life-saving support”.

But many of the badly affected areas are remote and have limited telecoms networks, complicating rescue efforts.