AFGHANISTAN: Initial estimates of the death toll following an earthquake in northern Afghanistan were being revised downwards last night as aid agencies began arriving and assessing the situation.
Early yesterday it was estimated that up to 5,000 people could have perished in the town of Nahrin, located in an isolated mountainous region of Baghlan province. The Afghan Interior Minister, Mr Yunus Qanuni, said 1,800 bodies had been pulled from the rubble.
But last night the aid agency Concern said its team on the ground now believed the death toll was closer to 200 to 300.
Speaking to The Irish Times from Concern's regional headquarters in the neighbouring province of Takhar, Mr Ros O'Sullivan said a further 400 to 500 people were estimated to have been hurt in Nahrin and up to 30,000 displaced. However, he said the death toll may rise today when a full assessment of the situation is made in surrounding communities.
He said the town of Nahrin, with a population of about 30,000, appeared to have taken the brunt of the earthquake which measured six on the Richter scale and occurred at about 7 p.m. local time on Monday night.
"At the time of the earthquake we had a team in the neighbouring district where we have a food assistance and agricultural programme going on. They felt it big time there and were up most of the night with it because of the tremors and aftershocks," he said.
Mr O'Sullivan said this team made the 80-minute journey to Nahrin from their base in Khost-We-Fereng, arriving at midday yesterday. "From their assessment initial estimates of very large-scale loss of life in Nahrin town are not borne out."
GOAL's emergency co-ordinator Mr Ray Jordan, who arrived in Nahrin yesterday, said it would be impossible to tell how many had died until a full assessment was made today. "At this stage the full extent of the damage is not known. I very much fear the death toll could rise in the coming days," he said.
Speaking by satellite telephone, he said it was estimated that 4,000 homes had been destroyed in the town of Nahrin. GOAL, he said, would be concentrating now on trying to get blankets and tents into the area for those left homeless.
The area, he said, was "virtually inaccessible. It's a matter of literally trying to get trucks over a mountain track that hasn't been repaired for 20 years."
The area was also hit by an earthquake on March 3rd when 70 people died. Mr O'Sullivan said the previous earthquake registered higher on the Richter scale but this one had done more damage.
"This one was very shallow, only 30 km down, so it caused very localised and severe damage," he said.
Last night GOAL issued an appeal for the victims of the earthquake. Donations can be made to GOAL at PO Box 19, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. For credit or laser card donations phone (01) 2809779. Those wishing to support the work of Concern call: 1850410510.