they were also felt across the border in the pakistani capital, islamabad. the full extent of the destruction has only gradually been becoming more clear this morning because the epicentre is in a very rural part of the south eastern province of paktika, reports that we are getting from local officials there suggest that a large number of people unfortunately have been killed, and a large number of houses have been destroyed. health facilities in the immediate area are pretty basic, helicopters are being used to ferry some of the injured to hospital. the taliban have been calling on aid agencies to reach the scene and help provide humanitarian support. this crisis, of course, coming on top of an existing humanitarian crisis in afghanistan, with people facing acute levels of hunger. freelance journalist franz marty, who has visited the region, spoke to us from kabul about what was happening on the ground. i have spoken to several
continue in outlying villages. the deputy minister for disaster and management says at least 610 people are injured across several afghan provinces. hikmatullah esmat is head of the provincial health body in paktika. he told the bbc that the number of casualties was likely to rise. buildings collapsing, yes. you know in afghanistan, there is no congress building. most people injured and dead under the building. our dead bodies and injured persons are increasing time by time because public people, they bring dead bodies from under the building. mujahideen, public people and health workers, all of them work together for the casualties. our correspondent secunder kermani is in the afghan capital kabul. the earthquake struck late last night and we felt powerful tremors here in the capital, kabul.
here in the capital, kabul. they were also felt across the border in the pakistani capital, islamabad. the full extent of the destruction is only gradually becoming more clear this morning because the epicentre is in a very rural part of the south eastern province of paktika, reports that we are getting from local officials there suggest that a large number of people unfortunately have been killed, and a large number of houses have been destroyed. health facilities in the immediate area are pretty basic, helicopters are being used to ferry some of the injured to hospital. the taliban have been calling on aid agencies to reach the scene and help provide humanitarian support. this crisis, of course, coming on top of an existing humanitarian crisis in afghanistan, with more than 19 people facing acute levels of hunger. freelance journalist franz marty joins me live from kabul now.
to have been killed in a powerful earthquake in afghanistan. the six point one quake struck overnight in the southeast of the country, with most of the confirmed deaths in a province called paktika. these are images of homes reduced to rubble. but the extent of the damage is still emerging. a local official says the number of dead is likely to rise, as rescue efforts continue in outlying villages. at least 150 people are injured. hikmatullah esmat is head of the provincial health body in paktia. he told the bbc that the number of casualties was likely to go up. buildings are collapsing. there are no concrete buildings and there are bodies underneath. health workers and all of them are working together.