At least four dead in Afghan quake

At least four people have been found dead and more than 100 houses were damaged when an earthquake jolted two villages early Saturday in north-eastern Afghanistan, police said.

"The very powerful quake shook Khwaja Khairaq and Pesta Mazar villages in Rostaq district at 2.30am (2200 GMT)," said Khalil Asir, police spokesman for Takhar province.

"Our initial information says that four villagers have died and more than 100 houses have been damaged," Asir said, adding that rescue teams have been dispatched.

"Increases in fatalities and damages are feared," he said.

Thousands of people died and went missing in a 1997 quake in the same district.