China News Service, June 23. Comprehensive report. In the early morning of the 22nd local time, Afghanistan suffered the deadliest earthquake in 20 years. At least 1,000 people have been killed and more than 1,500 people were injured. The number of casualties may rise further.

Seismologists have pointed out that geographic location, building quality and population density are the three major reasons for the heavy losses.

After the disaster, many countries and international organizations expressed their willingness to lend a helping hand to help the Afghan people tide over the difficulties.

On June 22, local time, a strong earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. The picture shows local children standing near houses destroyed by the earthquake.

Deadliest earthquake in 20 years

'The situation is horrific'

　　According to information from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred in eastern Afghanistan in the early morning of the 22nd, with the epicenter located more than 40 kilometers southwest of the eastern Afghanistan city of Khost.

According to the China Seismological Network, the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.2, with a focal depth of about 30 kilometers.

　　The Associated Press described the quake as "the deadliest earthquake to hit Afghanistan in 20 years."

　　Reuters quoted local disaster management officials as saying the earthquake had killed at least 1,000 people and injured more than 1,500.

Casualties could rise further as information comes in from remote areas.

　　"People are digging up the rubble one by one," said the head of the information and culture department in hard-hit Paktika province.

　　A survivor in Paktika province said in the hospital, "The situation is terrible, there are cries everywhere, and several of my children are buried in the soil."

Why are there so many casualties?

Expert analysis of three reasons

　　In much of the world, an earthquake of this magnitude would not cause such widespread damage, USGS seismologist Robert Sanders said.

　　He pointed to the location, construction quality and population density for the higher number of deaths in this earthquake.

　　He said the epicentre was in a mountainous area, causing landslides and rockfalls.

On the other hand, older buildings are more likely to collapse.

He also said of population density, "We've seen significant damage from earthquakes like this in the past because of the density of the population in the area."

On June 22, local time, a strong earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. The picture shows local people looking for survivors.

119 million people felt the quake

Bad weather makes rescue difficult

　　The earthquake also affected many nearby countries.

About 119 million people in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India felt the ground shaking, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).

　　Agence France-Presse reported that the earthquake hit the rugged eastern part of Afghanistan hard.

　　At present, many people are still trapped under the rubble.

Rescue workers said factors such as heavy rain, landslides and rough terrain added to the complexity and difficulty of rescue operations.

　　In addition, recently, heavy rainfall and floods have occurred in many provinces of Afghanistan, blocking some roads and hindering rescue operations.

Top Taliban leader asks for help

The international community has extended a helping hand

　　According to the Associated Press, after the disaster, the top leader of the Afghan Taliban, Akhundzada, made a rare call on the international community and humanitarian organizations to "spare no effort to help the Afghan people affected by this huge disaster."

On June 22, local time, a strong earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. The picture shows a man sitting next to his house destroyed by the earthquake.

　　It is said that at present, more than 60% of Afghanistan's 38 million people rely on international aid to survive.

　　The disaster has aroused widespread concern in the international community, and many countries and international organizations have expressed their willingness to lend a helping hand to Afghanistan to help the Afghan people tide over the difficulties.

　　United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement on the 22nd saying that the United Nations agencies in Afghanistan have fully acted to assess the humanitarian needs caused by the earthquake and provide initial support.

He called on the international community to provide assistance to the Afghan victims.

　　Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on the 22nd that China expresses condolences to the victims of the earthquake and condolences to the families of the victims and the injured.

China is willing to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan according to Afghanistan's needs.

　　"U.S. humanitarian partners have taken action, including sending medical teams to assist those in need, and we are evaluating other response options," Secretary of State Blinken said in a statement.

　　Pakistan's foreign ministry said, "Our government and agencies are working hard to coordinate with their relevant agencies to provide Afghanistan with the assistance it needs."

　　In addition, Iran, Turkey and other countries said they would provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.