Kabul (Republicpk.com) — A devastating earthquake has struck eastern Afghanistan, leaving a trail of destruction and a climbing death toll. According to initial figures from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), the quake has killed at least 1,411 people and injured 3,124 others. The disaster also destroyed 5,412 homes.
The magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit late Sunday night in the eastern province of Kunar. Its center was located just 27 kilometers from Jalalabad. Tremors were felt as far away as the capital, Kabul, and in neighboring Pakistan.
A senior Taliban official in Kunar described the situation to the BBC, saying the devastation was beyond imagination. “Entire villages have been turned into piles of rubble,” he said, and roads to mountainous areas are currently blocked. The immediate focus for rescue teams is reaching the injured, not just recovering bodies.
The official also noted that rescue efforts are difficult due to the blocked roads, and many people are waiting for helicopters to reach them in remote, cut-off areas.
(Source: BBC, Reuters)