Death toll rises to over 800 after quake in eastern Afghanistan UPDATED

More than 800 people have been killed and at least 2,800 others injured after an earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, Taliban state officials say.

The tremor hit Kunar province, near the border with Pakistan, around midnight on August 31, destroying several villages in the rugged, mountainous region, Caliber.Az reports via Sky News. 

Rescue teams are working across multiple districts, but officials in Kabul warned that the death toll could rise as search efforts continue.

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An earthquake measuring 6.0 magnitude has struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 600 people and injuring over 1,300, according to the Taliban’s interior ministry. The full extent of casualties remains unclear as rescue efforts continue in remote mountainous areas.

The quake struck shortly before midnight on August 31, about 27 kilometers from the city of Jalalabad near the Pakistan border, the US Geological Survey (USGS) announced. The tremor was recorded at a shallow depth of around 8 kilometers, a factor that makes even moderate quakes significantly more destructive, Caliber.Az reports per BBC. 

The Afghan Public Health Ministry warned that the numbers could rise as information emerges from areas difficult to access due to landslides and damaged infrastructure.

“We have launched a massive rescue operation and mobilized hundreds of people to help in the affected areas,” ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said.

Since the main tremor, at least five aftershocks ranging between magnitude 4.5 and 5.2 have rattled the region, according to the USGS. Experts warn that aftershocks could continue for days, further hampering relief operations.

Afghanistan is highly prone to earthquakes, lying on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Its rugged terrain and limited infrastructure make rescue and recovery operations particularly challenging.

By Sabina Mammadli