Hundreds were feared dead or injured after an earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter Scale struck Afghanistan’s Kunar province on Sunday, a region that was swept by a flash flood just last week.
As per the US Geological Survey website, the quake hit the area at 23:47 local time.
The earthquake struck at a depth of 8 kms.
The epicentre of the quake was located 27 km away from Jalalabad, one of the most populous cities in the Taliban-ruled nation.
More than 20 people have died in the provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar, and over 115 have been injured, local officials told the BBC.
According to reports, the exact death toll is still unclear due to the remoteness of the area where the quake occurred.
Taliban government officials told the BBC that “hundreds” are believed to have been killed or injured – but this has not been confirmed
Roads blocked due to landslides
With roads blocked by landslides, the police in Kunar province told the BBC that rescue operations can only be carried out by air.
Meanwhile, the Taliban government has urged urgent help from international aid organisations to meet the immediate challenges
According to reports, medical staff have reached the province by helicopter to treat those affected by the quake.
On 7 October 2023, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake had hit the South Asian country. It was followed by strong aftershocks.
At least 4,000 people had died in that quake.
