A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck the southeastern Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar on Sunday night, killing more than 600 people and injuring more than 1,500. The epicenter of the earthquake was 27 kilometers from the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar, at a depth of only 8 kilometers, causing severe damage to the districts of Nurgal, Soki, Watpur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara in Kunar. The Taliban government has appealed to the international community for immediate assistance, while other countries, including India, have offered humanitarian assistance. Earthquake details According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 11:47 p.m. on August 31, 2025, with a magnitude between 6.0 and 6.2. Its shallow depth and proximity to densely populated areas exacerbated the devastation. In Kunar, 610 people were killed and 1,300 injured, while in Nangarhar, 12 deaths and 255 injuries were confirmed. The earthquake reduced several villages to rubble, where mud and wooden buildings collapsed. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that “relief teams are active in the affected areas, but landslides and poor communication systems are hindering relief efforts.” Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Matin Qani said the death toll could rise as reports from many areas were not yet available. Public Health spokesman Sharafat Zaman confirmed that medical teams and helicopters were airlifting the injured from Kabul, Kunar and Nangarhar. Power and communications outages in the affected areas made relief efforts more difficult. Background and damage Jalalabad, a major commercial hub near the border crossing with Pakistan, was hit hard by the quake. It has a population of about 300,000, but the poor construction of mud-brick and wooden houses in the suburbs collapsed. Heavy rains had already weakened the structural integrity of buildings, doubling the damage. The World Food Programme described Afghanistan’s economic hardship and famine as an “unprecedented crisis,” further complicating relief efforts. Global reaction: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the attack and said: "We are ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to the victims." The United Nations and other aid agencies have also launched relief operations. The Taliban have appealed to the international community for urgent assistance, as thousands have been displaced. Challenges and the future Afghanistan, which has suffered more than 7,000 earthquake deaths in the past decade, has limited resources to deal with the devastation. Experts say poor construction and a lack of medical facilities have contributed to the death toll. Rescue teams are trying to pull people out of the rubble, but landslides and communication problems are hampering aid. “This earthquake is a great test for us, but we are determined to help our people.” — Taliban spokesman References BBC, Express, Umit News, Dawn News, Sach TV, X-Post