Iran Offers Afghanistan Assistance after Earthquake

The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson expressed the country’s readiness to provide relief aid to Afghanistan in the wake of an earthquake that has struck near Khulm in the northern province of Balkh.

News ID: 2002161

In a statement on Monday, Esmaeil Baqaei expressed deep sympathy to the Afghan people, particularly the families of victims of the fatal earthquake in northern parts of the neighboring country.

Wishing a speedy recovery for the injured, he expressed Iran’s readiness to assist Afghanistan in rescue and relief operations.

At least 27 people were killed and hundreds of others wounded after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan at around 1 am local time on Monday.

The quake struck several northern provinces, including Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, Baghlan, and Kunduz, also injuring 730 people.

Most of the casualties were reported in northern Samangan and Balkh provinces.

The earthquake caused "severe human casualties and heavy financial losses," according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society.

Search and rescue operations are going on to look for survivors.

The provincial capital of Balkh, Mazar-e-Sharif, also reported casualties as well as damage to property.

The quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the country's largest cities, the US Geological Survey said./tasnim