A powerful earthquake and a series of aftershocks have killed more than 800 people and injured over 1,500 in eastern Afghanistan, according to the Taliban’s interior ministry.
A powerful earthquake and a series of aftershocks have killed more than 800 people and injured over 1,500 in eastern Afghanistan, according to the Taliban’s interior ministry.
The 6.0-magnitude quake struck just before midnight, shaking buildings from Kabul to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. Its epicentre was located about 27km from Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, at a shallow depth of 8km, a factor that increases destruction.
Authorities said at least 810 people were killed and 1,300 injured in Kunar province, with another 12 deaths and 255 injuries recorded in neighbouring Nangarhar. Many homes were flattened, leaving entire communities trapped under rubble.
Rescue operations involving Taliban authorities and the United Nations are underway, with emergency teams delivering aid to hard-hit areas. The UN expressed deep sadness over the tragedy, calling the scale of the disaster “devastating.”
Aftershocks continued through the night, including a 5.2-magnitude tremor at about 4:00 a.m. local time.
Afghanistan, already battling severe humanitarian challenges and limited foreign aid since the Taliban’s return, has a long history of deadly earthquakes. In June 2022, a 5.9-magnitude quake in the eastern province of Paktika killed over 1,000 people.
