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6.0-Magnitude Quake in Eastern Afghanistan Kills At Least 812 as Rescues Struggle

Landslides and blocked roads in remote Kunar are slowing rescues despite airlifts.

Overview

  • Officials report at least 812 dead and about 2,700 injured, with Kunar suffering the vast majority of casualties and additional impacts in Nangarhar, Laghman and Nuristán.
  • The USGS measured a magnitude‑6.0 event at roughly 8 km depth near Jalalabad, followed by multiple aftershocks including about M5.2.
  • Access to hard‑hit districts such as Nurgal, Sawkay, Watapur and Chapa Dara remains limited due to mountainous terrain and road blockages from landslides.
  • Taliban authorities formed an emergency committee, allocated 1 billion afghanis for relief, and deployed helicopters that conducted about 40 evacuation flights.
  • UN agencies and the Afghan Red Crescent have teams on the ground, hospitals report overload, and officials warn the provisional toll may rise as assessments reach isolated areas.