Russian emergencies ministry ready to help Afghanistan, Pakistan deal with quake aftermaths

MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. Russia’s emergencies ministry has offered its assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan hit by a devastating earthquake, the press service of the ministry told TASS on Monday. "Today, Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov has expressed condolences and offered assistance to Afghanistan’s acting emergencies minister and the chairman of Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority," the press service said. "Russia’s emergencies services are ready to offer any help and support you might need," Puchkov said in his message. According to the latest data, the earthquake claimed about 80 lives in Afghanistan and 140 lives in Pakistan. More than 200 people were injured in Afghanistan and over a thousand - in Pakistan. A powerful earthquake hit the Hindu Kush mountains at 14:09 local time (12:09 Moscow time) on Monday. The epicenter was located at a depth of 196 kilometres some 82 kilometres southeast of the city of Faizabav in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province. Earth tremours were felt practically across entire South Asia, including northern India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Read more