The Taliban administration has confirmed that at least 610 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday. More than 1,300 others were injured, with officials warning the numbers could rise as rescue operations continue.
The quake, recorded at a shallow depth of just 8km (5 miles), ripped through villages near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, flattening homes and cutting off remote communities. Landslides triggered by the tremors have blocked access roads, slowing down relief efforts. Entire villages are reported to have been reduced to rubble.
Witnesses said the tremors were felt as far away as Kabul, about 140km (87 miles) from the epicentre, and across the border in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. The provinces of Kunar and Laghman have also reported widespread destruction.
Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain and fragile infrastructure make it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. In recent years, the country has endured a string of deadly quakes including the 2023 Herat disaster that killed more than 1,000 people, and another in Paktika in 2022 that claimed a similar toll.
Rescue teams are now racing against time to reach survivors, as officials brace for even higher casualty figures once more areas are accessed.
