Deadly 6.0-M Quake Hits Eastern Afghanistan; Hundreds Dead, Injured

DID Press: A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar and Nangarhar provinces late last night, killing around 700 people and injuring more than 500, according to local officials.

Authorities warned the death toll may rise as rescue operations underway.

The tremor was felt most severely in Kunar’s Nurgal, Chawki, Watapur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara districts. Landslides triggered by the quake have blocked key routes, including Diwa Gol and Mazar Dara.

In Nangarhar, several villages have also sustained heavy damages.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban’s caretaker government, announced that rescue teams have been dispatched from Kabul and other provinces, with operations ongoing to pull survivors from the rubble.

The quake was also felt in parts of Pakistan, where casualties were reported to be significantly lower.

The number of victims could rise sharply in the coming hours, warned Relief agencies.