At least 610 persons were killed and more than 1,300 injured after a strong earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Monday, AP quoted the country’s interior ministry spokesperson as saying.

The deaths and injuries were expected to increase as rescue teams reached the mountainous area, the Taliban-controlled administration was quoted as saying earlier.

The epicentre of the quake measuring six in magnitude was near Jalalabad, close to the country’s border with Pakistan. It took place at about 12.45 am Indian time at a depth of about 8 km. Shallow earthquakes tend to be more destructive.

It destroyed several villages and caused widespread damage, AP quoted Afghan officials as saying. The deaths reported so far were from the districts of Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi and Chapadare.

“Rescue operations are still underway there, and several villages have been completely destroyed,” AP quoted Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the public health ministry, as saying.

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