Death toll in Afghan earthquake put at 150

Afghan state television estimates 150 people are dead after an earthquake hit two villages yesterday.

We have received information from the governor of Samangan province that two villages, Takhdi and Rustum, were hit by the earthquake WFP spokesman Mr Khaled Mansour

The earthquake measured 6.7 on the Richter scale at its epicenter in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, 250 kilometres north of the western Pakistani city of Peshawar, according to Pakistani seismological officials.

"We have received information from the governor of Samangan province that two villages, Takhdi and Rustum, were hit by the earthquake and 50 people were killed and around 100 missing," said Mr Khaled Mansour, a World Food Programme (WFP) spokesman in Islamabad.

State televsion now estimates the death toll to be much higher with local reports indcating at least 150 were killed in the earthquake.

Mr Mansour said the WFP was trying to send two helicopters to assess the situation. "If these helicopters are made available today, they will be sent today. Otherwise they will be sent at first light tomorrow".

AFP