6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Eastern Afghanistan

Jalalabad, Afghanistan: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.0 magnitude struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, leaving over 600 dead and 1,500 injured. The quake hit the mountainous regions near the Pakistan border, causing widespread destruction and blocking rescue efforts in remote villages.

Epicenter and Impact

According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the quake occurred at a depth of 10 km, with the epicenter located 27 km from Jalalabad, Afghanistan’s fifth-largest city. Some reports indicated a shallower depth of around 8 km.

Casualties and Rescue Challenges

Officials from the Taliban government reported that the Kunar province was among the worst-hit areas, with 610 fatalities and thousands more left injured. Rescue operations have been hampered by blocked roads, landslides, and downed communication networks, forcing emergency teams to rely on helicopters for evacuations.

Aftershocks and Ongoing Aid

Aftershocks continue to rattle the province, raising concerns about further collapses of unstable structures. The Taliban administration has appealed to international aid organizations for urgent assistance, while medical teams and volunteers rush to the region to treat the injured and donate blood.

Historical Context

This tragedy follows the October 2023 earthquake in Herat, which killed at least 2,400 people, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to seismic disasters.