Another earthquake struck Afghanistan early today, at 3:16 AM. This time, the quake registered a magnitude of 4.9. This follows a 5.8 magnitude earthquake late Thursday night and a 4.8 magnitude tremor earlier. The death toll from the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Kunar province on the night of August 31st has now surpassed 2200.
Hundreds of bodies were recovered from the wreckage of homes destroyed by the earthquake that occurred on August 31st, leading to the rise in fatalities. A spokesperson for the Taliban government provided this information on Thursday.
The powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake on Sunday (August 31st) shook several provinces, resulting in widespread devastation. Numerous villages were destroyed, and people were trapped under the rubble of houses made of mud, raw bricks, and wood, which could not withstand the impact. Most of the casualties occurred in Kunar, where people live in river valleys surrounded by high mountains.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing. Tents have been set up for the people, and primary medical care is being provided. Essential supplies are also being delivered. Poor roads and a lack of funds are hampering rescue and relief efforts, and aid organizations are appealing to countries for more assistance.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located 27 kilometers from Jalalabad, the fifth-largest city in Afghanistan, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. The earthquake caused houses made of mud and stone to collapse. The tremors were felt as far as Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, about 400 kilometers away. Remote mountainous areas have been affected, where mobile signal coverage is very limited, and landslides have closed roads.