#AFG Afghanistan is to earthquakes, like Florida is to hurricanes. Disturbing reports coming out of Paktika and Khost provinces after earthquake. Some homes on a mountain collapsed as a result of sliding caused by earthquake in Khost.
In this video damage from earthquake is devastating. A local resident counting at least “ 30 people dead buried under in these homes” Gayan district in Paktika province in South- Western Afghanistan is one of the most remote districts and is home to destitute communities.
“One village is completely destroyed as a result of earthquake in Gyan district in Paktika province.” Residents in Gayan.
This resident in Gayan district who filmed this video : “ My home was the strongest in the district, damage from inside is even worse. My grandson who was buried was found after a long time. Alive.”
Gyan Paktika. “Number of dead bodies tragically in bigger numbers. Airforce, ambulances, reduce teams and villagers, everyone helping with the sad situation.” Khalid Zadran @khalidzadran01 who hails from the region tells me.
Wounded taken to a hospital in Gayan.
“Close to 250 people killed alone in Gayan. We see mud homes destroyed, people buried, homes destroyed on mountaintops and beneath hills as a result of sliding caused by earthquakes.” Haji Baqi Khan a community health worker in Gayan tells me.
“Number of wounded is more than 400 hundred. Ambulances, local Taliban officials, villagers and local people all trying to help. Phone services are not very relaible. People in the open and have lost everything.”Haji Baqi Khan a community health worker in Gayan district tells me.
“ 4 districts in Paktika affected very badly. Gayan has turned into a mass grave today. Entire villages destroyed. Women and children among those killed and wounded.” Haji Baqi a community health worker in Gayan tells me. Footage shared with me by @khalidzadran01 of Gayan.
Gayan district in Paktika province the site of mass casualties and fatalities as a result of earthquake. Disturbing details and reports about destruction from other districts in Paktika and Khost.
The number of fatalities in these smaller village is heartbreaking. Most of these villagers have lost their sole breadwinners. Remote villages homes to destitute communities in Gayan, Paktika .
“ I have seen families losing several of their family members, and more family members missing.” Haji Baqi community health worker tells me.
“There is panic and chaos. Everyone wants to know about fate and where about of family members, friends and members of community. There is no proper authority to provide people with information.” Haji Baqi community health worker in Gayan district in Paktika province tells me.
There are no health facilities. People took wounded to this village “ clinic” in Gayan district, Paktika province.
“One family lost 17 male and female members in Gayan.” Source :
The mud houses and structures built in large parts of the country are not match to withstand such magnitude earthquakes. These houses dont adhere to the building code. They are simply reduced to rubble, resulting in precious loss of life.
Mass burials for the victims of earthquake in Gayan, Paktika.
The area is mountainous and roads are not paved, so a major challenge in terms of getting aid to the people by road.
Brain bruising roads leading to Gayan, Paktika, area some of the mountainous and difficult terrains in South-eastern Afghanistan.
“One family lost 33 members. 33 funerals taken out of one home.” Source :
In Paktika, one home, “ Only survivor was 4 or 5 year old child. Rest of the family all dead.”
Gayan district. “ Every moment someone found a dead body buried somewhere.” Haji Abdul Baqi community health worker tells me. Footage shared with me by @khalidzadran01
“One family lost 18 members in Gayan. Two children and an elderly person only survivors.”
Lawara Bermal, Paktika. “ At least 150 people dead in this area.” Khalid Zadran @khalidzadran01 who visited the site tells me. Footage shared by @khalidzadran01 with me.
Salah Shah village completely destroyed.
Afghanistan lives in its villages, but for the moment, these villages are finding it hard to live.
A glimpse into the tragedy caused by earthquake.
Residents preparing for a mass burial, Lawara, Bermal district, Paktika province.
This was in 2014-05-06 one of the worse earthquakes in North-eastern Afghanistan. Source :
“Ali son of Niaz Mohammad a resident of Gayan, came from Saudi Arabia for holiday. He was killed along with 13 members of his family. Not even a cat 🐈 or a chicken 🐓 in his home survived.” Juma Gul Gyanwal, a former Afghan senator and Influnential tribal elder in Gyan tells me.
“In Wachakay village in Gayan, Zalif lost 16 members of his family. We have entire families killed in this tragedy.” Juma Gul Gyanwal, a former Afghan senator and influential tribal elder in Gyan district in Paktika province tells me.
I hope help comes to this man. He deserves the kindness of the world. All these people do. #PrayForPaktika
People are posting a picture of this young boy. #PrayForPaktika
I pray for my country. #PrayForPaktika
“Afghan bread, meat cooked in Gardez, Paktia at corps flown in helicopter for the victims.” Thanks for sharing this important information and photos with me. @khalidzadran01
Taliban soldiers taking cooked meals, bread and meat mostly for victims. @khalidzadran01 tells me. Photos shared with me by @khalidzadran01
“We have to bury my family members. We continue to find dead bodies. This tragedy is far from over. In our lifetime, we will continue to live with the pain and loss.” Juma Gul Gyanwal, a former Afghan senator and influential tribal elder in Gyan district in Paktika tells me.
Taliban acting interior minister Sirajudin Haqaani visiting Paktika province, also his family stronghold for decades. Here he is trying to console a young boy who lost all his family members.
Taking stock of the damage caused by earthquake. Most of the Taliban leadership flew to Paktika province, a family and military base for the Haqaanis for generations.
Children traumatized by the loss of multiple family members in the earthquake. Photos show the devastating impact on local homes. Thanks for sharing photos with me @raihan313
In addition to the earthquake, heavy rain and snow have caused flash floods & landslides this week : 8,000 RED goats buried in Sawakay alone, a former ISKP stonghold. In Dangam,Sarkano & Nuristan thousands of cattle killed only weeks before EID-Ul - Adha. Massive economic blow.
In villages likes these, loss of life and destruction of homes is simply Hearst breaking. #StandwithPaktika #NOTJUSTNUMBERSLIVES
Juma Gul Gyanwal,a former Afghan senator and an influential tribal leader in Gayan district lost 23 members of his family. “Everyone is in tears. Everyone is mourning. We will never recover from these losses in our life time.” He tells me . #StandwithPaktika #NOTJUSTNUMBERSLIVES
At the special instruction of acting Taliban interior minister Sirajudin Haqqani, “ 15 trucks loaded with food items at Khost airport headed to Paktika for victims of earthquake.” @khalidzadran01 one of the closest aids to Taliban interior minister tells me.
The sole survivor. Entire family trees and histories wiped out. #StandwithPaktika #NOTJUSTNUMBERSLIVES
From Herat to Paktika . A national trader from Herat province helping victims of the earthquake in Paktika. #StandwithPaktika
“Two fresh earthquakes were felt.” Gyanwal a former Afghan senator and a influential tribal elder in Gayan district in Paktika province tells me.
The wounded children of Paktika’s earthquake. #StandwithPaktika Thanks for sharing footage with me @raihan313
“ I lost my mother and two of my sisters.” Afghanistan a country of constant heartbreaks. #StandwithPaktika Thanks for sharing this footage with me. @raihan313
Entire family trees and histories wiped out. #StandwithPaktika #NOTJUSTNUMBERSLIVES
Afghan pilots have been flying constantly in and out of Gayan. Like this Blackhawk helicopter.
Mud homes : investments of life time destroyed. #StandwithPaktika
“ There have been tremors everyday. People are scared. We need shelter, clean sanitation.” Juma Gul Gyanwal a former Afghan senator and influential senator in Gayan district tells me.
In addition to the earthquake, heavy rain and snow have caused flash floods & landslides in Kunar and Nuristan provinces : this villager in Digal top in Chapa Dara, Pech valley in Kunar lost 600 sheep 🐑 and the only surviving sheep 🐑
This is a massive economic blow at a village and district level, ahead of EID-UL ADHA, people in remote places like Digal in Chapa Dara wanted to sell sheep 🐑 ahead of EID.
One villagers loss. Life time savings vanishing, this is a massive economic blow.
Most people are stuck up in the valleys because of snow and landslides. Health workers managed to treat this villager way up in the valley.
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