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. -News from Monday 25 March to 26 March 2002

Aftershocks Hamper Afghan Quake Relief

VOA News
26 Mar 2002 19:31 UTC
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(Courtesy U.S. Geological Survey)
(Courtesy U.S. Geological Survey) 
Aftershocks and jammed tunnels are hampering the efforts of international aid agencies to reach Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan, where a series of earthquakes Monday night left at least 1,800 people dead.

 Afghan officials say the bodies of the 1,800 victims have been pulled out of the rubble, but that many more are still buried.

 U.N. officials say two of the three roads serving the immediate area have been blocked by quake damage. Aftershocks continued into Tuesday afternoon. Reuters news agency reported traffic from Kabul to the quake zone jammed after two relief trucks overturned in the high altitude Salang Tunnel.

 The relief agencies are trying to deliver emergency equipment including clothing, blankets, tents, food and body bags to the devastated area. The independent aid agency ACTED did reach the quake region today to distribute 500 tents and 1,000 blankets badly needed because of extremely cold weather.

 Officials say about 4,000 people were injured and 10,000 homes destroyed in Baghlan province, 120 kilometers north of Kabul. The U.S. Geological Survey in Virginia says the quake measured 6.0 on the Richter scale. Earlier reports had put it at 5.8.
 
 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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