A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan, killing 622 and injuring over 1,500, officials confirm.
KABUL: A powerful Afghanistan earthquake struck the eastern region near the border with Pakistan, killing at least 622 people and leaving more than 1,500 injured, according to the Afghan interior ministry. The 6.0-magnitude quake hit on Monday, causing widespread damage and panic across several provinces.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the earthquake struck at a shallow depth of just 8 kilometres. Its epicentre was located approximately 27 kilometres northeast of Jalalabad, in Nangarhar Province, a densely populated area near the Pakistani border.
Authorities are continuing rescue efforts as emergency teams struggle to reach affected villages. Many homes in the region are built from mud bricks, which are especially vulnerable during seismic events. Reports from the ground suggest hundreds of families have been displaced.
Local hospitals have been overwhelmed, with medical teams treating injuries ranging from fractures to head trauma. The Afghanistan earthquake has also triggered landslides in hilly areas, further complicating rescue missions.
International aid agencies have offered support, while neighbouring countries are monitoring the situation closely. The Afghan government has declared a state of emergency and appealed for urgent humanitarian aid.
This tragic Afghanistan earthquake is one of the deadliest in recent years and adds to the ongoing challenges faced by the country, including economic instability and limited infrastructure.
