KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A strong earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, leading to significant devastation with approximately 800 reported dead and more than 2,500 injured, according to the Taliban government.
The 6.0 magnitude quake struck the Kunar province, close to the city of Jalalabad, at 11:47 p.m., its epicenter just 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad and only 8 kilometers deep, contributing to the widespread destruction.
Video evidence showed rescuers mobilizing to transport the injured from collapsed buildings, with many citizens desperately searching for lost relatives amid the rubble.
“Children are under the rubble. The elderly are under the rubble. Young people are under the rubble,” lamented an anonymous villager from Nurgal district, one of the hardest-hit areas. Reports indicate complete destruction of entire villages.
Rescue operations are underway, with medical teams deployed from various parts of the country, including Kunar, Nangarhar, and the capital Kabul. Despite the urgency, recovery efforts are complicated by the region's difficult terrain and ongoing aftershocks.
UNHCR officials noted that this disaster exacerbates existing humanitarian challenges in the area, already impacted by drought and mass displacement. Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, called on the international community for urgent support in relief efforts.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences and offered assistance to affected Afghans, reflecting a shared sense of grief and urgency in the region.
As preparations continue to address the aftermath of this tragedy, the Taliban's spokesperson stated that all available resources would be utilized in the efforts to rescue and rehabilitate those affected.
