A powerful earthquake struck the eastern provinces of Afghanistan near the Pakistan border — Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman — just a few minutes before midnight. According to initial reports, in Kunar province alone, at least 500 people have died and more than 1,000 others have been injured.
Local officials say the earthquake has caused severe damage in Kunar province, particularly in remote mountainous areas where access is difficult, and accurate information has not yet been received.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the earthquake measured 6.0 in magnitude, and the U.S. Geological Survey stated that it struck about 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad city in Nangarhar province.
The spokesperson for the governor of Kunar, Abdul Ghani Musamam, said early in the morning that there had been significant losses in remote areas of Kunar. Exact figures are not yet available, but initial reports indicate 250 people dead and 500 injured.
Reports suggest that the earthquake has destroyed houses on a large scale and caused landslides in the mountains.
More details about the earthquake will be shared soon.
On October 7, 2023, a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan, in which, according to Taliban officials, at least 4,000 people died.
The United Nations, however, reported the death toll at around 1,500. That earthquake and its casualties were considered the deadliest natural disaster in Afghanistan in recent times.
