Powerful earthquake in Afghanistan leaves more than 600 dead

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A powerful earthquake struck north-east Afghanistan overnight, leaving hundreds dead and raising fears that the numbers could climb, as the Taliban government scrambled to launch rescue efforts.

The 6.0-magnitude quake hit shortly before midnight outside the city of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, near the border with Pakistan, according to the US Geological Survey.

A spokesperson for the Afghan interior ministry said 622 people had been killed in Nangarhar and neighbouring Kunar province. He added that the death toll was likely to rise.

The Taliban government has dispatched helicopters to the affected regions, which are located among the Hindu Kush mountains, but landslides have complicated rescue efforts, he added.

Afghanistan’s state broadcaster had earlier said the deaths could reach at least 500, with 1,000 injured.

The initial quake was followed by a series of aftershocks, including two of magnitude 5.2.

“Sadly, tonight’s earthquake has caused loss of life and property damage in some of our eastern provinces,” Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on X on Monday. “Local officials and residents are currently engaged in rescue efforts for the affected people.”

The Afghan Red Crescent said that the earthquake had caused “both human casualties and significant financial losses to local communities”.

The UN mission in Afghanistan said the disaster had “claimed hundreds of lives, injuring many more”, adding that its teams were focused on delivering emergency assistance and life-saving support.