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Two quakes rock east Afghanistan Two quakes rock east Afghanistan
(about 1 hour later)
Two moderate earthquakes have hit eastern Afghanistan, with unconfirmed reports that 15 people have been killed and dozens of homes destroyed. Two moderate earthquakes have hit eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 19 people and destroying dozens of homes, officials say.
The US Geological Survey says a 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 0157 local time (2127 GMT), followed by a 5.1-magnitude aftershock two hours later.The US Geological Survey says a 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 0157 local time (2127 GMT), followed by a 5.1-magnitude aftershock two hours later.
The quakes struck about 50 miles (90km) east of Kabul near the Pakistan border. The quakes struck in Nangarhar province, about 50 miles (80km) east of Kabul near the Pakistan border.
They killed 15 people, wounded 20 and destroyed 100 homes, a government spokesman told the AP news agency. At least two villages were reported to have suffered serious damage.
Villagers in Mir Gadkhel were scrambling through the rubble of flattened houses to recover bodies after the quake, Reuters news agency reports. The interior ministry in Kabul and provincial officials put the death toll at 19, while local police said at least 20 had been injured.
Villagers there said as many as 40 people may have been killed. "The police started work this morning. All the 19 dead bodies were picked up by police," ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashari told the AFP news agency.
"The work is going on and the rubble is being removed to try to find more dead bodies or injured people."
Villagers told reporters that the death toll was higher.
Quake-prone
Survivors in Mir Gadkhel village were scrambling through the rubble of flattened houses to recover bodies after the quake, Reuters news agency reports.
"Three of my family members were killed and seven are injured," villager Gul Mohammad said.
"I think about 40 people have died. Hundreds of houses have been destroyed".
The mountains of northern Afghanistan and Pakistan are frequently hit by earthquakes.The mountains of northern Afghanistan and Pakistan are frequently hit by earthquakes.
A 7.6-magnitude earthquake that rocked north-west Pakistan in October 2005 killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million.A 7.6-magnitude earthquake that rocked north-west Pakistan in October 2005 killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million.