Afghan officials: More than 20 houses buried in quake; scores feared dead

KABUL – An Afghan provincial governor says more than 20 houses have been buried in a landslide caused by an earthquake Monday in northern Afghanistan. Scores are feared dead.

Baghlan Gov. Abdul Majid says rescuers have so far pulled out two women’s bodies from the rubble. They expect that many others were buried inside their houses.

Burka district, scene of the earthquake and landslide, is a remote area about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the provincial capital.

A quake measuring a magnitude 5.4 struck the Hindu Kush region Monday morning, followed by a 5.7 quake, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far away as the Afghan capital, where it shook buildings.