quake

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Afghanistan's remote south-eastern region on Thursday night, the third quake in six days, as the death toll from the first continued to rise.

The areas worst hit by the quake were Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, but it was felt as far away as Kabul and in neighbouring Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

An inconsolable woman said she had lost family members in the quake, while an old man appeared dazed and lost, unable to speak to anyone.

The initial quake was followed by a number of large aftershocks, which are thought to have caused further deaths.

“Activities associated with the withdrawal of steam for producing electric power cause or induce small quakes to occur in the field,” the agency says.