A massive rescue operation is underway in Afghanistan after a powerful earthquake and a series of aftershocks flattened homes and left widespread destruction across the country late Sunday night. According to the interior ministry, more than 600 people have been confirmed dead, with over 1,500 others injured, as authorities and aid agencies scramble to reach survivors.
The 6.4-magnitude quake struck just before midnight at a shallow depth of eight kilometres, with the epicentre located 27 kilometres from Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, the US Geological Survey reported. Shallow earthquakes are often more destructive, and the impact was felt as far as Kabul and neighbouring Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. In Kunar province alone, 610 people were killed and 1,300 injured, while neighbouring Nangarhar reported at least 12 deaths and 255 injuries.
The Taliban authorities, alongside United Nations relief teams, have mobilised rescue and relief operations in the worst-hit areas. “The UN in Afghanistan is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the eastern region & claimed hundreds of lives,” the UN said in a statement on X, confirming that emergency supplies and lifesaving assistance are being delivered to survivors. With many homes destroyed and aftershocks still rattling the region, fears are growing that the death toll may rise further.
