A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, leaving over 250 dead and around 500 injured, according to Taliban officials.
The epicenter was located 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad at a shallow depth of 8 km, heavily impacting several districts of Kunar province, including Nur Gal, Sawki, Watpur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara. Authorities fear the death toll will rise as rescuers face difficulties reaching remote areas.
Landslides blocked key routes to Dewa Gul in Sawki and Mazar Dara in Nur Gul, further delaying relief work. Residents described the quake as among the strongest in recent memory.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the casualties and ongoing rescue efforts. The USGS also reported two aftershocks of magnitude 5.2 in the same zone.
The disaster follows last year’s 6.3-magnitude earthquake in 2023, which caused massive destruction and thousands of deaths across the country.
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