Kabul: A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing at least 610 people, injuring more than 1,300, and levelling entire villages, officials of the Taliban-led government confirmed on Monday.
The 6.0-magnitude quake hit at 11:47 pm local time, with its epicentre located 27 kms east-northeast of Jalalabad city in Nangarhar province, according to the US Geological Survey.
At a depth of just 8 kms, the shallow tremor unleashed devastating force, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Matin Qani told the Associated Press that the hardest-hit area was Kunar province, where most fatalities occurred.
“Rescue operations are still underway. Several villages have been completely destroyed,” Qani said.
In neighbouring Nangarhar, at least 12 people lost their lives and hundreds were injured.
Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, warned that the death toll could rise significantly as many remote regions have yet to report casualties.
“Medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar, and Kabul are on-site, but the situation remains critical,” he added.
Jalalabad, a key trade hub near the Pakistan border, has a population of around 300,000 but sprawls far beyond its official limits.
Its outlying areas are dotted with poorly constructed homes made of mud and wood, making them highly vulnerable to earthquakes.
The region also relies heavily on agriculture, including citrus cultivation and rice farming, with the Kabul River flowing through the city.
This disaster comes less than two years after a 6.3-magnitude quake struck Afghanistan on October 7, 2023, killing thousands.
Taliban officials then estimated 4,000 deaths, while UN figures put the toll at about 1,500—making it the deadliest natural disaster in recent Afghan history.
