Over 800 dead after devastating earthquake in Afghanistan

A strong earthquake has devastated eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 800 people and injuring more than 2,800, according to Taliban representatives. The magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. Due to its shallow depth of only 8 kilometers, the destruction was further intensified in Kunar and the surrounding districts. The spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior, Abdul Matin Qani, said that 610 dead and 1,300 injured had been confirmed in Kunar alone, with the number of casualties expected to rise as rescue teams reach remote areas. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Sharafat Zaman, noted that many scattered hamlets are still inaccessible, delaying an accurate count. In the mountain villages near the Pakistani border, houses made of mud and stone collapsed, burying families under the rubble and requiring hundreds to be taken to hospitals. Jalalabad, a bustling trade hub with 300,000 residents, suffered significant damage in its poorly constructed suburbs. The disaster follows a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in October 2023, which claimed thousands of lives. Rescue efforts continue as authorities warn of a possible increase in the number of casualties.