Afghanistan: Third earthquake in one week as deaths jump to 2,200

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 rose to 2,200, authorities said.

The shallow quake hit at 20:56 local time (15:36 GMT) and sent people in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces scampering out of shelters in fear.

There was no immediate official report of casualties from Thursday night's earthquake, but medics on the ground told the BBC that 17 wounded people were brought to Kunar Provincial Hospital.

Earlier in the day, the Taliban government reported that the death toll from Sunday's magnitude 6.0 earthquake had jumped to 2,200, with 3,600 others wounded.

The region's rough and mountainous terrain continues to hamper rescue and disaster relief operations, the government said.