Significant Earthquake Rattles Eastern Afghanistan

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 shook eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, reportedly decimating numerous villages, though exact casualty figures were yet to emerge as of early Monday.

The seismic event was located approximately 17 miles east of Jalalabad, close to the Pakistani border, as detailed in preliminary findings by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Impact on Local Communities

The Afghan health minister reported that several communities in Kunar's Nurgal district, including Sholt, Arit, Mamagal, and Wadir, faced near-total destruction. Other areas incurred considerable damage.

While casualty reports were still incomplete early on Monday, it was confirmed that some injured individuals had been airlifted to receive medical attention. Search and rescue operations were in progress for other victims.

Government Response

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the government, lamented the fatalities and property damage caused by the tremor in Afghanistan’s eastern regions, as communicated via social media.

He also indicated that support teams had been dispatched from neighboring provinces to assist in the affected areas.