Death toll in Afghan earthquake rises above 600, more than a thousand injured

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.3 has struck eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan, leaving more than 800 people dead and over 1,000 injured. The quake hit late Sunday night, with its epicentre in Nangarhar province, and its tremors were felt across a wide area, including in the capitals of both Afghanistan and Pakistan. This tragic event has caused widespread devastation and has prompted an urgent call for humanitarian assistance.

According to the Kunar Disaster Management Authority, the earthquake's shallow depth of just 8 km amplified its destructive power, leading to the collapse of numerous buildings. The initial tremor, which lasted for several seconds, was strong enough to shake buildings as far away as Islamabad, located approximately 370 kilometres from the epicentre. The immediate aftermath saw chaos and panic as people rushed to find safety.

The tragic situation was compounded by two subsequent earthquakes. A less powerful quake, with a magnitude of 4.5, struck the same province about 20 minutes after the first, followed by a third one measuring 5.2. These aftershocks have added to the fear and uncertainty among the local population, hampering rescue efforts and increasing the risk for survivors trapped under rubble.

A spokesperson for the Nangarhar Public Health Department, Naqibullah Rahimi, confirmed that local hospitals were overwhelmed with the injured. He stated that at least 15 injured people had been taken to the local hospital for immediate treatment, a number that is expected to rise as more information becomes available from remote and hard-to-reach areas. The full extent of the damage and casualties is still being assessed.

Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to seismic activity due to its location in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which sits at the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. The frequent earthquakes in the region make it one of the most seismically active zones in the world, with a history of devastating quakes that have claimed thousands of lives over the years. This latest disaster is a stark reminder of the country's ongoing struggle with natural calamities.