May 25, 2013
Afghan quakes kill at least 15, destroy homes
KABUL (AP) - A government spokesman says that two earthquakes in eastern Afghanistan have killed at least 15 people and destroyed dozens of homes.
Spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai says that two earthquakes about 50 miles (90 kilometers) east of Kabul have killed 15 people, wounded 20 and destroyed an estimated 100 homes.
The U.S. Geological Survey says Nangarhar province was hit by two earthquakes early Friday - one a 5.5 magnitude quake around 2 a.m., and the second a 5.1 magnitude aftershock two hours later.
A villager in Nangarhar's Sherzad district, Shah Mohammad Khan, tells The Associated Press that the death toll could be even higher. Khan says 40 people were killed and 60 wounded, but no government officials have confirmed those figures.
(WTVY-TV note: There was no word whether the quakes affected US troops in Afghanistan.)
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