Powerful quake rocks eastern provinces, heavy casualties feared

KABUL (Pajhwok): An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale has struck eastern provinces of the country, causing human and financial losses, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) said on Monday.

The earthquake occurred two hours earlier (around midnight), according to the United States Geological Survey, which recorded its magnitude at 6.0.

The Nangarhar provincial administration posted on its X account that 15 injured people had been taken to the regional hospital, while in Dara-i-Noor district two children lost their lives and four others were wounded.

Heavy casualties have also been reported in Kunar province, though exact figures are not yet available.

Nangarhar’s deputy governor, Maulvi Azizullah Mustafa, said that doctors and medical supplies would soon be airlifted by helicopter from Nangarhar to Kunar, and that critical patients would also be transported in the same way.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the IEA’s chief spokesman, without providing further details, wrote on X: “Regrettably, tonight’s earthquake has caused human and financial losses to people in some of our eastern provinces. At this moment, local officials and residents are engaged in rescuing the affected, and relief teams from the centre and nearby provinces are on their way.”

He added that all available resources would be used for rescue efforts.

Further details will be published later.

sa