Deadly 6.0-magnitude quake claims more than 800 lives, leaves 2,500 wounded in Afghanistan

A powerful 6.0-magnitude tremor struck eastern Afghanistan just before midnight on Monday, collapsing homes and causing massive destruction. Authorities reported that more than 800 people have lost their lives, with many more injured as search and rescue efforts continue.

The seismic event shook areas spanning at least five provinces, from the capital Kabul to Islamabad in neighboring Pakistan, leaving communities shattered. Rescue teams are tirelessly working to reach survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures and to evacuate those wounded by airlift as night falls.

Ehsanullah Ehsan, the disaster response chief in Kunar province near the quake’s epicenter, told reporters that numerous individuals remain buried under debris.

The search operation is still ongoing. Many people are stuck under the rubble of their roofs – said Ehsanullah Ehsan

He cautioned that the fatality count is expected to grow as operations press on.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed approximately 800 deaths and 2,500 injuries in Kunar alone. In neighboring regions, Nangarhar saw 12 fatalities and 255 wounded, while Laghman reported 58 injuries.

Hospitals in Jalalabad have been flooded with the injured, including 22-year-old Zafar Khan Gojar, who was airlifted from Nurgal with his brother, who suffered a broken leg. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) identified the quake’s origin about 27 kilometers from Jalalabad and roughly 8 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface. Its relatively shallow depth exacerbated the damage, especially given that many residents live in fragile, mud-brick dwellings prone to collapse during tremors.

The United Nations migration agency expressed concern that some of the hardest-hit villages remain unreachable due to damaged and obstructed roads. Nearly 20 hours after the event, locals are still trying to clear pathways to facilitate relief deliveries.

Aid organizations and local authorities are coordinating efforts to restore critical routes and bring necessary supplies. With winter approaching, the urgency to reach survivors and rebuild lives becomes even more pressing.