At least 250 people perished after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near its border with Pakistan, according to official reports. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stated the quake occurred 17 miles from Jalalabad at midnight local time on Sunday, with subsequent aftershocks ranging from 4.5 to 5.2 magnitude.
Afghan officials warned that precise casualty figures remain unclear due to the remote, mountainous terrain complicating rescue efforts. Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Afghan Public Health Ministry, confirmed a large-scale operation was underway, mobilizing hundreds to assist victims. The earthquake’s shallow depth of 5 miles amplified its destructive impact despite its moderate magnitude.
Jalalabad, a trade hub near the Pakistan border, is home to low-rise concrete and brick structures, as well as vulnerable mud-brick and wooden homes in outlying areas. The region’s susceptibility to earthquakes stems from its location atop fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, compounded by landslide risks.
Earlier this year, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in October 2023 killed at least 4,000 people, though estimates varied widely between Afghan authorities and the U.N. The latest disaster has again highlighted Afghanistan’s vulnerability to seismic disasters.
Casualty numbers are expected to rise as affected areas report back. Some sources suggest the death toll could reach 500.