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A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province late Sunday, killing at least 800 people and injuring more than 2,500, authorities said Monday.
The quake, centered near Jalalabad close to the Pakistan border, hit at a depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles) and triggered widespread destruction, including landslides that blocked roads and hampered rescue efforts.
Afghanistan’s interim government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told X, “Unfortunately, today’s earthquake has caused loss of life and property across eastern provinces.” He added that local residents joined in rescue efforts, while teams from the central government and surrounding provinces were en route to assist.
https://x.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1962430959678009355
“All available resources will be used to save lives,” Mujahid said, reiterating figures of over 800 dead and more than 2,500 injured in a press conference Monday.
An official from the Afghan Ministry of Information said Kunar province was hardest hit, with helicopters being deployed to support search and rescue operations amid blocked roads.
Local officials described the earthquake as one of the most severe to strike Afghanistan in recent years. At least two aftershocks, including a magnitude 5.2 tremor, were reported in the area.
The disaster adds further strain to Afghanistan, already facing multiple humanitarian crises, and comes as the country’s infrastructure and emergency response capacity remain limited.
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