Afghanistan rocked by a deadly 6.0 magnitude earthquake claiming 600+ casualties so far: Report

A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, leaving a trail of devastation with at least 250 people confirmed dead and more than 500 injured, according to official reports. The death toll is expected to climb as rescue and recovery efforts continue in the remote, mountainous region.

The epicenter of the quake was located approximately 17 miles from Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Nangarhar, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While tremors were felt as far as the nation’s capital, Kabul, the majority of the casualties occurred in the neighboring Kunar Province. Sediqullah Quraishi Badloon, a communications official for Nangarhar, confirmed that most of the initial 250 fatalities were registered in Kunar, with nine deaths reported in Nangarhar itself.

The USGS issued a stark warning, with its models predicting “significant casualties” and widespread damage. The agency noted that a key factor in the high number of casualties is that people in the affected area often reside in structures that are extremely vulnerable to seismic activity, typically constructed from mud and other non-resistant materials. This vulnerability tragically magnifies the impact of any significant tremor.

Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid acknowledged the disaster on social media, stating the earthquake had “caused loss of life and property damage in some of our eastern provinces.”

This tragedy is the latest in a series of challenges for a nation already grappling with a severe economic and humanitarian crisis. Earthquakes pose a persistent threat in Afghanistan, which is situated near major geological faults. In 2022, a 5.9-magnitude quake in the country’s southeast killed at least 1,000 people, highlighting the region’s susceptibility to such natural disasters. It also highlights the fact that Afghanistan’s infrastructure is not resilient enough to earthquakes due to poverty and other factors.

The current situation is compounded by the suspension of foreign aid and the recent forced return of millions of Afghan nationals from neighboring countries. The United Nations had already estimated that more than half of Afghanistan’s 42 million people were in dire need of humanitarian assistance before this latest catastrophe, which will place further strain on the nation’s limited resources and its resilient but suffering population.