A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, leaving behind widespread devastation and a rising death toll. The quake, which hit near the Pakistan border about 27 kilometers from Jalalabad, struck at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometers, amplifying its destructive force. According to the Taliban’s interior ministry, at least 622 people have been confirmed dead and more than 1,500 injured, though earlier reports from Kunar province cited around 250 deaths and 500 injuries. In some villages, dozens of residents were killed as homes collapsed instantly.
Rescue efforts have been severely hampered by damaged roads, landslides, and aftershocks, making it difficult for aid teams to reach remote mountain communities. Helicopters have been dispatched to airlift the injured, while local residents, medical teams, and soldiers continue to search through the rubble. With Afghanistan already struggling under a severe humanitarian crisis and reduced foreign aid, authorities warn that relief operations are stretched to the limit. So far, no foreign government has offered support, though international aid organizations are being contacted.
Eastern Afghanistan lies in a highly active seismic zone along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian plates. The region has endured repeated deadly earthquakes, including a series in 2023 that killed thousands in Herat. For now, families in Kunar, Nangarhar, and neighboring provinces are mourning their dead, while survivors wait desperately for help in one of the most challenging terrains in the country.
