More than 800 people have been confirmed dead and nearly 3,000 others injured after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan overnight, officials have said.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan interim government, said the disaster devastated large parts of Kunar province, particularly in Nurgal, Suki, Watapur and Chapa Dara districts. Initial figures there show 800 lives lost and around 2,500 wounded.
Elsewhere, Nangarhar province reported 12 fatalities and 255 injuries, while Laghman province saw 58 people hurt. Nuristan province recorded four injuries. Mujahid stressed that the casualty toll remains provisional and could rise as assessments continue.
Rescue efforts are being hampered by rugged terrain and damaged infrastructure, though emergency teams have been dispatched to deliver assistance and aid to survivors.
The tremor struck at 11:47 p.m. on Sunday, with its epicentre recorded 27 kilometres northeast of Jalalabad at a shallow depth of 8 kilometres, making the quake especially destructive.
