Kabul: A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake has resulted in the deaths of at least 622 people and injured more than 1,555 others in eastern Afghanistan. The earthquake has led to the destruction of numerous homes across Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, as reported by the Ministry of Interior (MoI).
According to Kuwait News Agency, the MoI spokesperson, Mufti Abdul Mateen Qane, disclosed that the latest figures indicate 610 deaths and 1,300 injuries in Kunar province. In Nangarhar province, 12 fatalities and 255 injuries have been confirmed. The earthquake has left dozens of houses destroyed in both provinces.
In response to the disaster, Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani has directed provincial governors, police chiefs, and security forces to expedite relief efforts and assist affected individuals. The earthquake has severely impacted districts such as Nurgal, Sawkay, Watapur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara in Kunar, with several villages in Nurgal buried under soil, raising fears of more people trapped.
As communication continues with residents in remote areas, the casualty figures are expected to rise. Rescue operations involving locals and authorities have commenced in the affected regions. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has instructed local officials to fully utilize their resources for rescue efforts. Meanwhile, rescue teams from the Ministries of Defense, Interior, and Public Health have been deployed, with injured individuals being airlifted to a government hospital in Nangarhar province.
The initial 6.0-magnitude earthquake was followed by two aftershocks measuring 5.2 and 4.7 on the Richter scale. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has identified Jalalabad city as the epicenter of the seismic activity.