250 killed as earthquake hits Afghanistan

A powerful earthquake has killed at least 250 people and left scores injured in Afghanistan.

Pictures being shared on social media showed injured people on stretchers, rubble and destruction of homes in Paktika province.

A local government official told the BBC the death toll of more than 250 was likely to rise, and that more than 150 others had been injured.

The quake struck about 44km (27 miles) from the south-eastern city of Khost.

Tremors were felt across more than 500km of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, quoted by Reuters

The centre said that witnesses had reported feeling the quake in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, as well as Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

- BBC