Hundreds killed, thousands injured after earthquake hits Afghanistan (ANSA)
Pope prays for victims of earthquake in Afghanistan
In his message, Pope Leo offers prayers for all the victims,
injured, and missing and expresses his solidarity with those who have lost
loved ones, while invoking divine blessings on the entire Afghan people.
By Kielce Gussie and Nathan Morley
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan late in
the evening on 31 August. At least 800 people have already been declared dead
and thousands have been injured.
Upon hearing the news, Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to
everyone affected by the devastating natural disaster. In the message, signed
by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope expressed he is “deeply
saddened by the significant loss of life”.
Some 2,500 people have
been injured after the earthquake on 31 August (AFP or licensors)
Offering his prayers for all who were killed, the injured,
and everyone still missing, Pope Leo entrusted “all affected by this disaster
to the providence of the Almighty” and he expressed “his heartfelt solidarity
in particular with those who mourn the loss of loved ones and with the
emergency personnel and civil authorities involved in rescue and recovery
efforts.”
In the telegram, the Pope invoked “divine blessings of
consolation and strength” upon the entire Afghan people during this difficult
time for the nation.
What exactly happened
A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern
Afghanistan late Sunday, killing at least 812 people and injuring more than
2,800, officials said Monday.
The quake hit at 11:47 p.m. local time, with its epicentre
located 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar
province, at a depth of eight kilometers, according to geological data.
Aftermath of deadly
magnitude-6 earthquake in Afghanistan
Officials said many residents are feared trapped beneath
rubble, and helicopters have been deployed to reach remote regions inaccessible
by road.
In Nangarhar province, authorities confirmed 12 deaths and
255 injuries. Laghman province reported 58 injuries, while Nuristan province
recorded four.
“These are preliminary figures and expected to rise as
assessments continue,” a government official said.
The rugged terrain has complicated rescue efforts, but
emergency response teams have been dispatched to the affected zones to
accelerate aid delivery and search operations.
UNICEF, the United Nations’ children’s agency, also has
local teams working with Afghan authorities to assess the damage and coordinate
humanitarian support.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét