Over 600 Dead, Hundreds Injured as 6.0-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Afghanistan

A devastating earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, killing at least 622 people and injuring more than 400, according to the Taliban-led Interior Ministry.

The quake hit at 11:47 pm local time (12:47 am IST) and was followed by multiple aftershocks of magnitudes 4.7, 4.3, and two measuring 5.0, compounding the destruction. The epicentre was located at latitude 34.50N, longitude 70.81E, at a depth of 160 km, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported.

Strong tremors were felt across eastern Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan, and northern India, including Delhi-NCR, where residents reported buildings shaking late at night.

Three villages in Kunar province were completely destroyed, with others sustaining extensive damage, said Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Health Ministry. “Figures from just a few clinics show over 400 injured and dozens of fatalities,” he warned, adding that the death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams reach remote areas.

Provincial officials confirmed 30 deaths in a single village, while hundreds of victims were rushed to nearby hospitals. Najibullah Hanif, head of information in Kunar, put preliminary figures at 250 dead and 500 injured, noting that assessments are still underway.

The widespread destruction has been blamed on the region’s fragile infrastructure, with most homes built of mud and stone collapsing under the quake’s force.

As of Monday morning, no foreign aid had been offered, according to Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry. “So far, no foreign governments have reached out to provide support for rescue or relief work,” a spokesperson confirmed.

Afghanistan, situated on the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, is among the most earthquake-prone regions in Asia. The Hindu Kush mountains have historically witnessed frequent and deadly quakes.

This disaster follows the October 2023 earthquake cluster, where a series of tremors—including one measuring 6.3—claimed thousands of lives, marking one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent Afghan history.