Earthquake Devastation: 500 Killed, 1,000 Injured in Remote Regions
A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, resulting in catastrophic losses, with at least 500 people killed and 1,000 injured, according to Taliban-led health authorities.
The quake hit a mountainous area approximately 27 kilometres east-north-east of Jalalabad, Afghanistan’s fifth-largest city, at around 11:47 pm local time.
The regions of Nangarhar and Kunar have been worst affected, with landslides cutting off roads and forcing police and rescuers to rely on helicopters.
Remote Areas Severely Impacted
The Afghan health ministry reported 30 fatalities in a single village, but accurate casualty figures have yet to be gathered in an area of scattered hamlets with a long history of earthquakes and flooding.
Local officials are working to reach remote areas, where access is difficult, to assess the full extent of the damage.
Hundreds of injured people have been taken to hospital, with the number of casualties and injuries expected to rise as reports arrive from remote areas with few roads.
Seismic Activity Common in Region
Afghanistan is prone to deadly earthquakes, particularly in the eastern region near the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
This region has experienced several earthquakes in recent months, including a 5.17-magnitude quake on August 19 and a 5.6-magnitude quake on August 27.
The country’s west has also been hit by a series of earthquakes, with more than 1,000 people killed in quakes last year.
A magnitude-6.3 earthquake that hit the western Herat province in October 2023 was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory.
The Taliban government has appealed for urgent international help, citing the need for assistance in responding to the disaster.