Death Toll Lowered in Afghanistan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 27, 2002

Death Toll Lowered in Afghanistan

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A powerful earthquake devastated mountain villages in northern Afghanistan, where officials estimated hundreds had died and thousands more were injured in a region already hard-hit by hunger, drought and war.

Afghan government officials initially said 1,800 were killed, but aid agencies estimated early Wednesday that the death toll was much lower. Ros O'Sullivan, project coordinator from Concern Worldwide, said aid workers believe 200 people were killed in the town of Nahrin and surrounding villages in the Hindu Kush mountains.

The toll could go somewhat higher, he said, but was not expected to exceed "the low hundreds," O'Sullivan said. That conclusion was reached Tuesday night during a meeting of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and relief groups at the scene.

U.N. spokesman Manoel de Almeida e Silva said confusion over the toll is common in the early stages of disasters, especially in remote areas where communication is poor and where people who flee are often initially reported as missing or dead.

Afghan Defense Ministry official Mira Jan had said 600 bodies had been recovered from the Monday night quake, and that 90 percent of Nahrin has been destroyed.

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