A deadly earthquake late Sunday night has left more than 600 people dead and over 1,500 injured in Afghanistan, with thousands left homeless as rescue efforts intensify.
The powerful tremor struck just before midnight, shaking buildings as far as Kabul and Islamabad, Pakistan. The US Geological Survey said the quake’s epicentre was about 27 kilometres from Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, at a shallow depth of eight kilometres, making the destruction worse.
Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s interior ministry, confirmed the heavy toll in Kunar province. “610 people were killed and 1,300 were injured in Kunar province, with numerous houses destroyed,” he said. In neighbouring Nangarhar province, 12 people died while 255 others were injured.
Survivors have been left stranded amid collapsed buildings and rubble as search and rescue teams, supported by the Taliban government and the United Nations, race to reach remote areas. “The UN in Afghanistan is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the eastern region and claimed hundreds of lives,” the UN said in a post on X, adding that emergency aid and lifesaving support were already being delivered.
Aftershocks, including a 5.2-magnitude quake in the early hours of Monday, have added to the fear and slowed rescue operations.
Afghanistan, located near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, is no stranger to deadly earthquakes. Just over a year ago, a 5.9-magnitude quake hit Paktika province, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands without homes.
The disaster comes as the country battles deep humanitarian and economic crises worsened by four decades of war and reduced foreign aid following the Taliban’s return to power.
Authorities warn that the death toll could rise as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated villages in the hardest-hit areas.
