UPDATED: Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Afghanistan, Kills at Least 800 People

A powerful earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan, killing hundreds of people and injuring hundreds more, Reuters reported citing state-run broadcaster Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA).

On Sunday night, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck the northeastern province of Kunar near the Pakistan border, claiming the lives of at least 800 people and injuring 1000 others, with figures likely to rise.

The Afghan health authorities have not confirmed the official toll figure as rescue operations are still underway in remote areas.

Quake Aftershocks 

The epicenter of the earthquake was near Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, at a depth of 14 km, according to Sky News. About 20 minutes later, the quake was followed by another one in the same province with a magnitude of 4.5 and a depth of 10 km. Later on, another quake hit at the same depth, with a 5.2 magnitude.

A spokesperson for the Afghani government said in a statement that the earthquake has caused “loss of life and property damage in some of our eastern provinces.” He added that “local officials and residents are currently engaged in rescue efforts for the affected people. Support teams from the center and nearby provinces are also on their way.”

UN Support

Meanwhile, the UN in Afghanistan said that it is providing support for the affected people. “The UN in Afghanistan is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the eastern region & claimed hundreds of lives, injuring many more. Our teams are on the ground, delivering emergency assistance & lifesaving support. Our thoughts are with the affected communities,” it said in a statement on X.

Afghanistan is located near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, and it is often impacted by earthquakes. On October 7, 2023, Afghanistan was struck by a 6.3 magnitude quake and strong aftershocks – the deadliest natural disaster to hit Afghanistan in recent memory. The country’s government estimated the death toll at 4,000, while the UN put them at 1,500.