Massive 6.0 Earthquake Strikes Eastern Afghanistan, Causing Significant Damage and Casualties

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern region of Afghanistan, close to the border with Pakistan, on Sunday, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located approximately 27 kilometers north-east of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province, at a depth of 8 kilometers.

The quake occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time, with USGS models predicting that the shaking could potentially lead to hundreds of casualties due to the likelihood of hundreds of thousands experiencing strong to very strong shaking, which may cause significant damage to poorly constructed structures.

Initial reports suggest that at least nine people have been killed and 25 others injured in Nangarhar, according to Reuters citing Ajmal Darwaish, spokesman for the province’s health department. The Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed casualties and property damage in certain eastern provinces via a post on social media.

Efforts are currently underway to rescue those affected, with local authorities, residents, support teams from the capital, and nearby provinces mobilized for relief efforts. The USGS PAGER system has issued an orange alert, predicting potential economic and human loss as a result of the earthquake.

Significant casualties are expected due to the nature of this event, requiring either regional or national-level response, according to the USGS PAGER system. Residents over 100 miles from the epicenter, such as Ahmad Zameer in Kabul, have reported experiencing strong tremors.

In October 2023, a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake took over 2,000 lives in western Afghanistan, marking one of the deadliest quakes to hit the country in recent years. This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.