earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan Kills Over 250
kunar Province, Afghanistan – A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Wednesday, resulting in at least 250 confirmed deaths and widespread damage across multiple provinces, officials reported. the quake, centered in a remote region, has triggered a rescue operation hampered by landslides and difficult terrain.
The earthquake impacted Nur Gal, Sawki, Watpur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara districts in Kunar Province, with the final death toll expected to rise as dialogue is established with isolated communities.The disaster underscores Afghanistan’s vulnerability to seismic activity and the challenges of providing aid in a country already facing significant humanitarian and economic crises. Rescue teams are deploying resources to affected areas, while authorities assess the full extent of the devastation and prepare for potential aftershocks.
A ministry information official,who requested anonymity,stated that local officials and residents are actively involved in rescue efforts,supported by teams dispatched from central and surrounding provinces. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Afghan interim government, confirmed casualties and property damage in a statement posted on social media X, adding, “All available resources will be deployed to save lives.”
access to the hardest-hit areas, including Dewa Gul in Sawki District and Mazar Dara in Nur Gul District, is currently blocked by landslides triggered by the earthquake. Residents have described the quake as one of the most powerful they have ever experienced.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported at least two aftershocks measuring magnitude 5.2 in the same region following the initial earthquake.
