Afghanistan’s global death toll rings and Taliban officials say nearly 1,000 people were injured

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan early Monday rose to 27 on Tuesday, with nearly 1,000 more injured in Tequmplor, according to national health officials.

The US Geological Survey said the largest US advance was reported near Kholm, in North Samangan province, but Afghanistan’s Taliban government reported casualties along with other tribes in at least five other provinces.

Videos posted online show tremors lasting about 20 seconds. It was so strong that it was felt in the capital Kabul and neighboring countries, causing panic in families early Monday morning.

Sharafat Zaman, a spokesman for the public health service, said 27 people were killed, most of them in Salman and the neighboring provinces of Ballh. Deaths were also confirmed in Baghlan, Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Jawzjan provinces, with a total of 953 confirmed injuries.

The Afghanistan National Deform Management Authority has reported that more than 500 homes were damaged by the earthquake, leaving families at high risk of displacement and in urgent need as temperatures drop with the onset of winter.

In Mazar-I-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, the earthquake caused significant damage to the 15th-century blue mosques, according to Blue government spokesman Haji Zahid, who shared a video of the damage on his social media account.

Humanitarian organizations, many of them from recently Budget cuts by the US And some governments, have sent teams to help facilitate the delivery of emergency health care and other essentials to those affected.

“The recurring face of repeated disasters – Earthquakes, floods and droughts, all exacerbated by climate change. “One in five Afghans face extreme hunger, and millions of people are severely malnourished.”

In the past two years, Afghanistan has been hit by several deadly earthquakes, including a A powerful templor that was striking in the east of the country By the end of August, 2,200 people had been killed and thousands of families without shelter, clean water, and medical care, according to Afghan officials.

The UN said it would need $140 million in emergency funds to help families affected by the earthquake.

“At this time of need, the world cannot turn its back on international aid and continue to weaken the resilience and rehabilitation of millions of Afghans who are already living in crisis,” said Mirsa.