Two earthquakes struck northern Afghanistan Monday and sparked a massive landslide in the Burka district of Baghlan Province. Local officials said Tuesday dozens of homes in the village of Sayi Hazara were buried in the landslide. At least 100 people are believed to have died in the thick blanket of mud and rock. Rescue teams reached the area Monday, but could do little to look for survivors because the houses were buried so deep. Local residents say 25 to 30 homes are buried.
"We need bulldozers or other machinery to remove all this earth and get the bodies out, or the survivors if there are any," said provincial police chief spokesman Jawed Basharat.
Two bulldozers were operating at the scene Tuesday. Authorities do not expect to find any survivors. Two bodies have been recovered so far.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first earthquake struck at 9:32 a.m. at a depth of 30 miles. The epicenter of the 5.4 magnitude tremor was located about 99 miles southwest of Feyzabad. A 5.7 magnitude earthquake followed about 30 minutes later at a depth of 19 miles.
###
Click here for more World News
