JALALABAD, Afghanistan — A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border late Sunday night, killing more than 500 people and injuring thousands, according to Taliban officials. The epicenter was located just 17 miles from Jalalabad, a major city near the Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, at a shallow depth of 5 miles, significantly amplifying its destructive impact.
The quake hit around midnight local time (3:30 p.m. ET) and was followed by at least five aftershocks, ranging from 4.5 to 5.2 magnitude, throughout Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Aftershocks of this nature, experts warn, can last for days and often cause additional damage and casualties.
“This is a massive tragedy. The full extent of the devastation is still unfolding, especially as rescue operations are hampered by the region’s rugged, mountainous terrain,” said Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Afghan Public Health Ministry. “We’ve launched extensive rescue operations and mobilized hundreds of emergency workers and volunteers to reach the affected areas.”
Images from hospitals in Jalalabad showed wounded residents — including many children — being treated for injuries sustained in the collapse of mud-brick homes and unstable structures. Local hospitals, already under strain from years of underfunding, are now overwhelmed by the influx of injured victims.
Afghanistan sits atop multiple active fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, making it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions. Its eastern and northeastern provinces are particularly vulnerable due to frequent seismic activity and unstable soil conditions that increase the risk of landslides.
The timing and shallow depth of the quake made it especially deadly. Similar shallow earthquakes in the region have resulted in catastrophic casualties in recent years. In 2022, a 5.9-magnitude quake killed around 1,000 people, and in 2023, three 6.3-magnitude earthquakes struck Herat province, claiming 1,500 lives.
This most recent disaster comes amid an already dire humanitarian situation. Afghanistan is grappling with the effects of four consecutive years of drought, poor harvests, and the return of over 2.3 million refugees from Pakistan and Iran. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a USAID-affiliated body, many families are unable to grow or store enough food for the winter, raising fears of a worsening crisis.
International humanitarian agencies are being urged to provide immediate assistance, including search and rescue teams, food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter.
