A magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan at 11:47 p.m. local time on Sunday, jolting communities across Kunar province and beyond. With the epicenter located just 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad at a depth of 8 km, the quakes impact was swift and devastating.
Afghan interim government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed at least 812 fatalities and 2,817 injuries. The hardest-hit districts—Nurgal, Suki, Watapur, and Chapa Dara in Kunar—account for around 800 deaths and 2,500 injuries alone. In neighboring provinces, Nangarhar saw 12 deaths and 255 injuries, Laghman recorded 58 injuries, and four people were hurt in Nuristan.
These figures are initial estimates and are expected to climb as search teams push deeper into the rugged terrain. Response units from relevant agencies have mobilized to expedite rescue operations, delivering aid and medical support to those trapped under debris or displaced by collapsing homes.
Local residents, many living in remote mountain valleys, face steep challenges accessing relief points. Authorities are coordinating air and ground efforts to overcome blocked roads and reach isolated villages. As aftershocks remain a threat, both officials and humanitarian groups are ramping up preparations to prevent further loss of life.
For young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, this disaster is a sobering reminder of the human cost when natural hazards strike vulnerable regions. Its also an urgent call to support resilient infrastructure and inclusive disaster planning—issues that resonate across borders and industries.
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Over 800 dead, nearly 3,000 injured in eastern Afghanistan earthquake
cgtn.com
