Kabul: A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan last night, measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale.
The quake has resulted in the deaths of 800 people and injuries to 1500. Dozens of homes were destroyed, and critical infrastructure in several areas suffered severe damage.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the quake was near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, with a depth of 8 kilometers. The earthquake was felt at 11:47 PM local time.
Approximately 20 minutes later, an aftershock with a magnitude of 4.5 struck the same area, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar were the hardest hit, where many homes collapsed into rubble. Landslides and aftershocks have destroyed roads leading to the affected regions, significantly hampering ground rescue operations.
Emergency crews and local residents are working around the clock in multiple districts, attempting to rescue survivors from beneath the rubble.
A local official said that hundreds of injured people have been taken to nearby hospitals, and warned that the number of casualties is likely to rise as rescue efforts continue.
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On the other hand, various parts of Pakistan were also affected by an earthquake late at night at 12:38 AM; however, no casualties were reported.
According to the Richter scale, the earthquake measured 5.4 in magnitude and lasted between 35 and 50 seconds.
The tremors were also felt in Mansehra, Sargodha, Tandlianwala, Talagang, Chakwal, Hangu, Abbottabad, Buner, Mardan, Murree, and other cities.
