A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, killing at least 250 people and injuring 500 across multiple districts in Kunar province, state-owned Bakhtar News Agency reported on Monday.
The provincial disaster authority confirmed the preliminary toll, noting that the numbers are likely to rise as rescue teams reach remote areas with limited communication. Relief efforts are underway to assess the full extent of the damage and provide aid to affected communities.
Afghanistan National Radio and TV earlier reported nine deaths and 20 injuries in neighboring Nangarhar province. Strong tremors were also felt in Kabul, where residents reported internet outages following the quake.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck at 11:47 p.m. local time on August 31. The epicenter was located 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar, at a depth of eight kilometers.
Officials said search and rescue teams have been deployed, with local authorities coordinating emergency assistance despite challenging conditions in quake-hit villages.
The disaster adds to Afghanistan’s humanitarian challenges, with international agencies likely to be called on for aid in the coming days.
