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Afghanistan Earthquake March 2002

At about 7.30pm, March 26th 2002, Northern Afghanistan was hit by an earthquake measuring 6 on the richter scale. The earthquake was centered in the Hindu Kush mountains in the Nahrin region. Tens of thousands have been left homeless and at least 1,800 were killed in the quake. Many of the houses in the district capital were made of mud and the area was flattened.

The rescue attempts in this remote region were made difficult by frequent aftershocks, some of which came every five minutes. As well as the aftershocks, winter weather and and difficult terrain made matters worse. Many made homeless by the quake were forced to camp out in freezing conditions.

News Reports

Reports from Guardian Unlimited Website 

1,500 feared killed in Afghan earthquake
1,800 Afghans killed in series of earthquakes

Reports from the CNN website

Afghan quake toll uncertain

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