KABUL - Residents in some parts of Kabul, whose houses were damaged in Monday's 7.5 magnitude earthquake, said they spent last night out in the open as their homes are not habitable calling on government to step in and help them.

Some said they did not have the means to rebuild their houses and appealed for government assistance.

Hayatullah, the head of a seven-member family, said he cannot move his family back into their home because of the structural damage caused during the quake. He said rain alone could easily cause it to collapse.

"The winter is coming. Our house has been damaged in the earthquake. We do not have money to reconstruct it," said Hayatullah.

Another Kabul resident, Nazbo, who lives in Shor Bazaar said: "Most of the houses in our area were damaged. All the area and the bazaar and our houses in Shor Bazaar area of Kabul have been seriously damaged in yesterday's [Monday] earthquake."

Shor Bazaar is a very old part of the city and consists of mostly mud-made houses.

It is said that most houses in Afghanistan have not been built in compliance with safety standards to withstand natural disasters.

The quake, which struck on Monday at about 1:40 pm local time is believed to have been the most powerful in the country's recent history. (Tolonews)