Rescuers in Afghanistan will try to reach isolated villages in the eastern region of Kunar, the epicentre of an earthquake that killed more than 800 people and injured more than 2,800, authorities told on Tuesday.
Initial operations were carried out in four villages, with efforts now focused on mountainous areas near the Pakistani border, where mudbrick homes were flattened.
Difficult terrain, damaged roads, and bad weather have hampered access, prompting the use of machinery, helicopters, and ambulances to reach affected communities.
Ehsanullah Ehsan, head of provincial disaster management, said authorities cannot yet determine how many bodies remain trapped under rubble and are prioritising both rescue operations and aid distribution.
"National and international organisations are present in the area, have organised their assistance, and, God willing, aid will be distributed in an orderly manner," said Ehsan.
Rescue teams and authorities are trying to dispose of animal carcasses quickly so as to minimise the risk of contamination to water resources, a UN official said on Monday.
"Damaged roads, ongoing aftershocks, and remote locations of many villages severely impede the delivery of aid," the World Health Organisation said in a situation update, adding that over 12,000 people had been affected by the quake.
Some injured have been transferred to hospitals in Nangarhar and Kabul. Taliban forces are assisting with security and relief efforts, while national and international organisations provide aid.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel aims to eventually end its reliance on U.S. financial military support within the next decade. The decision signals a long-term shift in the country’s defence policy as it seeks to deepen ties with Gulf states.
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