Over 800 dead, nearly 3,000 injured in eastern Afghanistan earthquake

At least 812 people have been confirmed dead and 2,817 others injured in a magnitude-6.0 earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan, Afghan interim government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Monday.

Mujahid reported that the hardest-hit areas were the Nurgal, Suki, Watapur, and Chapa Dara districts of Kunar province, where 800 deaths and 2,500 injuries were confirmed.

In neighboring provinces, 12 people were killed and 255 injured in Nangarhar, 58 people were injured in Laghman, and four injuries were reported in Nuristan.

The casualty figures are initial estimates and are likely to rise as evaluations progress, the official stated.

The rugged terrain has posed significant challenges for relief teams, but response units from relevant agencies have been deployed to the affected areas to expedite rescue operations and aid delivery to those trapped or in need, Mujahid added.

The earthquake struck the eastern part of Afghanistan at 11:47 p.m. local time on Sunday, with the epicenter located 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, at a depth of 8 km.