Afghanistan shaken by second earthquake as rescue efforts struggle

Afghanistan airdropped commandos on Wednesday to pull survivors from the rubble of homes in mountainous eastern areas ravaged by earthquakes this week that have killed more than 1,400, as it ramped up efforts to deliver food, shelter and medical supplies.

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake shook southeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, raising fears of further destruction almost two days after a major 6.0-magnitude quake killed more than 1,400 people and injured thousands.

The quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles), similar to the earlier disaster that flattened homes in remote villages.

The aftershock caused panic and disrupted rescue operations, sending rocks sliding down mountains and cutting off roads, making it dangerous to dig through rubble, said Safiullah Noorzai, who works with Aseel, a humanitarian tech platform.

He added that more people had likely been injured, potentially raising the death toll further.

Aid organisations are urging international support. Samira Sayed Rahman, Programmes and Advocacy Director at Save the Children, said, "This is now a race against time to save lives – to get injured people out of remote villages cut off by massive rock falls and to get clean water, food, and shelter in."

UNICEF highlighted that thousands of children are at risk, sending medicines, warm clothing, tents, and hygiene items to affected areas.

The World Health Organization noted, "Damaged roads, ongoing aftershocks, and remote locations of many villages severely impede the delivery of aid," adding that more than 12,000 people have been affected.

Taliban soldiers have been deployed to provide help and security, while aid deliveries from Britain, India, and other nations are slowly reaching the region.

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