Eastern Afghanistan is reeling after a powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near the city of Jalalabad around midnight, flattening homes and leaving hundreds feared dead. The tremor, felt as far away as Islamabad, occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, intensifying its destructive force across the mountainous region near the border with Pakistan.
Initial reports confirmed at least 20 fatalities, but officials warned the death toll could climb significantly as rescue teams reach remote areas. Helicopters have been deployed to Kunar province, where much of the devastation has been reported, rushing the injured to hospitals.
&ldquo;The number of casualties and injuries is high, but since the area is difficult to access, our teams are still on site",&nbsp; said Health Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman.
Najibullah Hanif, the provincial information chief, said hundreds of injured victims had already been hospitalized, with numbers expected to rise as more reports emerge from hard-to-reach villages.
The earthquake struck just over 100 kilometers from Kabul, shaking communities across several districts. Aftershocks, including a magnitude 4.5 tremor shortly after the main quake, were reported, deepening fears of further collapses.
The Taliban-led government has appealed to international aid agencies for urgent support, warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis. The region&rsquo;s rugged terrain, combined with Afghanistan&rsquo;s history of devastating quakes, has heightened concerns. In 2023, a series of quakes in the country&rsquo;s west killed thousands, marking one of Afghanistan&rsquo;s deadliest disasters in decades.
As search and rescue teams navigate collapsed structures and blocked roads, officials brace for a grim update to the casualty count.

Hundreds Feared Dead in Afghanistan Quake

Magnitude 6 quake hits eastern Afghanistan, rescue efforts underway amid rising death toll

Hundreds Feared Dead in Afghanistan Quake

Magnitude 6 quake hits eastern Afghanistan, rescue efforts underway amid rising death toll

September 1, 2025 | 15:45 IST