Dozens killed in Afghanistan as earthquakes strike Nangarhar province

Dozens of people are feared killed by two strong earthquakes that struck eastern Afghanistan early today, officials said.

The quakes destroyed around 100 houses in the villages of Sargad Kheil and Khodi Kheil, in the Sherzad district of Nangarhar province, according to the regional governor's spokesman.

Mohammad Tahir Zahir, deputy head of the provincial council of Nangarhar province, told Reuters that 40 people were known to have died.

That figure was backed by villagers in the Sherzad district, about 50 miles east of Kabul.

Residents of the village of Mir Gadkhel, about 45 km west of Jalalabad, told Reuters they thought dozens had been killed there.

"Three of my family members were killed and seven are injured," Gul Mohammad told the agency. "I think about 40 people have died. Hundreds of houses have been destroyed."

A boy called Amrullah added: "I was sleeping when the earthquake happened. We went out for a bit and went back into the house. Then there was another tremor which was very strong. The roof came down and killed my brother and his two children."

In Sar Kot, another village in the district, women gathered around the dead bodies of children, crying and slapping their heads in grief. A Reuters cameraman counted about 10 dead bodies in the village and about 12 houses destroyed there.

Abdul Mateen Edraak, head of Afghanistan's National Disaster and Preparedness Centre, told Reuters that 18 people had been confirmed dead so far but the toll would rise as more bodies were recovered.

The US Geological Survey said Nangarhar province was hit by two earthquakes – a 5.5 magnitude tremor at about 2am (21.30 BST yesterday), and a 5.1 magnitude aftershock two hours later.

Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountain range is struck by many minor earthquakes each year. As homes are often made of dried mud, even moderate quakes can cause many deaths and severe damage.