More than 800 killed, over 2,500 injured as 6.0-magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan

Kabul (Web Desk/Agencies): A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, killing over 800 people and injuring more than 2,500, according to the latest figures released by the Taliban-led interior ministry.

The 6.0-magnitude quake hit near the border with Pakistan, leveling homes and entire villages built of mud and stone in one of the country's most disaster-prone regions.

The tremor struck at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometers, exacerbating its destructive force across Kunar and neighboring provinces. Rescue efforts are ongoing as emergency teams, assisted by local residents and soldiers, scramble to locate survivors trapped under debris.

Helicopters have been deployed to evacuate the injured from remote areas that are difficult to access by road, while ambulances continue to transport the wounded to nearby hospitals.

The health ministry warned that the casualty count is likely to rise further as rescuers reach isolated communities.

In some areas, particularly in Kunar province, officials report entire villages flattened, with one district alone confirming 30 deaths and hundreds injured.

Authorities in Kabul said the situation remains critical, with medical personnel under strain and infrastructure damaged. The state-run broadcaster had initially estimated the death toll at around 500, but updated figures released Monday confirm the toll has surpassed 800.

Many victims are believed to be buried under collapsed buildings, prompting a race against time for search and rescue operations.

Despite the scale of the disaster, Afghan officials say no foreign governments have yet offered direct assistance.

The lack of international engagement adds pressure to a country already in the grip of a severe humanitarian crisis.

Following a significant reduction in foreign aid and the forced repatriation of Afghan nationals from neighboring countries, the earthquake now compounds the hardships facing millions across the region.

Afghanistan’s vulnerability to seismic events is well documented, particularly in the mountainous Hindu Kush region where tectonic plates collide.

Last year, a series of earthquakes in the country’s west killed more than 1,000 people, underscoring the devastating impact such natural disasters can have in a nation with limited emergency response capacity and fragile infrastructure.