Many killed as earthquake hits east Afghanistan

An earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, killing at least 255 people. The state-run Bakhtar news agency reported the death toll and said rescuers were arriving by helicopter.
Bakhtar quoted a Taliban official as saying an emergency meeting was held at the presidential palace to discuss providing all possible assistance to the earthquake victims. The news agency's director-general tweeted that 90 houses have been destroyed in Paktika and dozens of people were believed trapped under the rubble.