Afghan earthquake: At least 1,000 people killed and 1,500 injured

A powerful earthquake has killed at least 1,000 people and injured 1,500 in eastern Afghanistan.

The Taliban appealed for international help for the rescue effort as pictures showed landslides and ruined mud-built homes in the province of Paktika.

Hundreds of houses were destroyed by the magnitude 6.1 event, which occurred at a depth of 51km.

It is the deadliest earthquake to strike Afghanistan in two decades and a major challenge for the Taliban, the Islamist movement which regained power last year after the Western-backed government collapsed.

Source:BBC