Kabul
A powerful earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, leaving a trail of destruction across the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar. The tremor, which hit at 11:47 PM local time, was shallow—just 8 km deep—making it particularly destructive in the mountainous terrain near the Pakistan border.
📍 Epicenter and Affected Areas
- Epicenter: 27 km east-northeast of Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province
- Provinces Hit: Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman
- Towns Affected: Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi, Chapadare
Homes made of mud and wood collapsed instantly, trapping families beneath the rubble. Rescue operations are underway, but many villages remain inaccessible except by helicopter due to damaged roads and landslides.
🧨 Casualties and Damage
- Confirmed Deaths: Over 500 people
- Injured: More than 1,000
- Aftershocks: At least 13, including magnitudes of 4.5 and 5.2
- Infrastructure: Entire villages flattened; hospitals overwhelmed
The Taliban-led health ministry has warned that the death toll may rise as reports continue to emerge from remote areas. Locals are digging through debris with bare hands, hoping to find survivors.
🌧️ Compounding Crisis: Rain and Landslides
In the days leading up to the quake, heavy rains had already damaged infrastructure in Kunar province. Landslides triggered by the quake have further complicated rescue efforts, blocking access to key roads and isolating communities.
🌍 Regional Impact
Tremors were felt across Pakistan, including in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, and as far as Delhi, India. While no casualties were reported outside Afghanistan, the widespread shaking underscores the region’s seismic vulnerability.
🆘 Humanitarian Response
Afghanistan’s disaster management authorities are coordinating with international aid groups, though logistical challenges remain. Helicopters have been deployed to evacuate the injured, and temporary shelters are being set up for displaced families.
Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, stated:
“Rescue operations are still underway. Several villages have been completely destroyed. The figures for martyrs and injured are changing by the hour.”
📖 Historical Context
This quake comes nearly two years after a 2023 earthquake in western Afghanistan killed over 2,400 people. The region lies within a seismically active zone influenced by the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making shallow quakes particularly deadly.
For ongoing updates, you can follow Al Jazeera’s live coverage or read the full report from Times Now News.
