SRINAGAR: A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late on Sunday night, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 115, according to local officials, as per multiple media reports.
The quake, which hit at 11:47 p.m. local time, was centred approximately 27 kilometres north-east of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province, near the border with Pakistan. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the tremor originated at a shallow depth of 8 kilometres, intensifying its destructive potential.
Rescue operations were launched early Monday as emergency services and local residents searched through the rubble in Nangarhar and the neighbouring Kunar Province, both of which reported casualties and significant structural damage. Among the victims were at least two children, who died when a residential roof collapsed, officials confirmed, as reported by Reuters.
Tremors were felt across large parts of eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, including in Peshawar and Islamabad, prompting panic among residents. Hospitals in the affected Afghan provinces have been overwhelmed with the injured, with health workers struggling to cope amid limited medical supplies.
Conflicting casualty figures have emerged as assessments continue. While local Afghan media and provincial officials report 20 confirmed deaths, some international sources have suggested higher tolls, with estimates ranging from 50 to over 250 fatalities. The Taliban administration has yet to release an official nationwide update.
Afghanistan is situated in a seismically active region due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The country has suffered a series of deadly earthquakes in recent years, including a 6.2-magnitude quake in 2022 that killed more than 1,000 people in the southeast.
Emergency aid, including food, tents, and medical supplies, is reportedly being mobilised by humanitarian organisations. However, access to remote areas remains a challenge due to damaged roads and ongoing insecurity in some regions.
Authorities have warned of possible aftershocks and urged residents to remain cautious, especially in areas where buildings have been weakened by the tremor.
