JALALABAD: A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, causing widespread devastation and heavy loss of life.
According to local authorities and the Ministry of Information, at least 250 people have been killed and more than 500 injured across the provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time (19:17 GMT), with its epicenter located 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad at a shallow depth of just 8 kilometers.
The tremor was followed about 20 minutes later by a 4.5-magnitude aftershock, further rattling the already shaken region.
Dozens of villages have been severely damaged, with mud and stone houses collapsing on residents. The worst-affected areas appear to be in Kunar Province, where landslides blocked major roads, complicating rescue and relief operations. In Nangarhar, at least nine deaths and dozens of injuries were reported.
Eyewitnesses described it as one of the strongest earthquakes they had ever experienced. “The ground shook violently, and within seconds entire houses came down,” said a resident of Kunar.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid acknowledged the extensive casualties and property damage. Emergency response teams, volunteers, and local communities are working together to search for survivors. Helicopters have been deployed to transport the injured, and blood donation drives are underway in nearby hospitals.
The earthquake was felt as far as Kabul, Islamabad, and across parts of northern India, sparking panic and forcing residents to flee their homes.
Afghanistan’s interim government has appealed for international humanitarian aid to assist with relief and reconstruction efforts, as many remote areas remain cut off due to landslides.
Comments are closed.