ISLAMABAD: A powerful earthquake late Sunday night shook Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Tajikistan, with Afghan officials reporting hundreds of casualties and widespread destruction.
According to the US Geological Survey, the 6.0-magnitude quake struck near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, at a depth of 8 kilometres around 12:17am. A second tremor measuring 4.5 was recorded about 20 minutes later.
Afghan state media Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) reported as many as 800 deaths and over 1,500 injured. However, Taliban-led health authorities in Kabul said they were still confirming the official toll as access to remote areas remained difficult.
NBC earlier quoted Taliban officials saying around 250 people had been killed, while the BBC placed the figure much lower at 13 fatalities by Monday morning.
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Impact in Afghanistan
Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Afghan Public Health Ministry, said several villages in Kunar province’s Nurgal district — including Sholt, Arit, Mamagal, and Wadir — had been “completely destroyed.” He confirmed evacuations of the injured and recovery of bodies trapped under collapsed houses.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said rescue operations were being carried out by local officials and residents, with support teams dispatched from nearby provinces. “All available resources will be utilised to save lives,” he stated on social media.
Tremors in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the quake was recorded at 5.4 on the Richter scale. Initial reports suggested no loss of life or property damage. Authorities, however, said they were closely monitoring the situation as aftershocks were reported across northern areas.
Seismic background
Experts explained that the tremors were caused by movement of tectonic plates in the region where the Indian, Eurasian, and Arabian plates interact. Geologists warned that the area remains vulnerable to future seismic activity due to persistent underground pressure.
