Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Strikes Eastern Afghanistan Near Pakistan Border

Late Sunday night, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, resulting in injuries and raising concerns about potential damage. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, at a depth of 8 kilometers.

Naqibullah Rahimi, a spokesman for the Nangarhar Public Health Department, stated that 15 individuals were injured and transported to the hospital for treatment. Approximately 20 minutes after the initial quake, a 4.5 magnitude aftershock was recorded in the same province.

Afghanistan is situated in a seismically active region due to the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The country's vulnerability is heightened by the prevalence of buildings constructed with materials such as timber, mud brick, or weak concrete, which are not earthquake-resistant. Additionally, earthquakes in Afghanistan's mountainous areas often trigger landslides, causing further destruction and obstructing roads, which hampers rescue efforts.

In June 2022, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan, resulting in over 1,000 fatalities and thousands of injuries. The shallow depth of that quake, combined with the region's infrastructure vulnerabilities, contributed to its devastating impact.