Kabul - At least 20 people were killed in an earthquake that hit Afghanistan's Nangarhar province early Friday, officials said.

The earthquake, which registered magnitude 5.1 on the Richter scale, had its epicentre in Nangarhar, about 80 kilometres east of Kabul, said Shersad Hamras, the director of Afghanistan's disaster control office.

About 50 people were injured by collapsing buildings he added. Further details were not immediately available. (dpa)