6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southeastern Afghanistan After Deadly Tremors

Southeastern Afghanistan has been struck by a powerful magnitude 6.2 earthquake, the third major tremor in the region since Sunday, compounding the devastation from earlier quakes that killed over 2,200 people and injured thousands more. The epicenter of the latest earthquake was in the remote Shiwa district near the Pakistan border, with initial reports of damage in the Barkashkot area. Earlier quakes, including a 6.0 magnitude tremor on Sunday, flattened villages in the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar, leaving tens of thousands homeless and severely straining rescue and relief efforts amid the region's difficult mountainous terrain. The Taliban government reports ongoing search and rescue operations, but aid agencies warn of dwindling resources and a critical need for food, medical supplies, and shelter. Helicopters and army commandos have been deployed to assist survivors, while aid workers face challenges reaching isolated villages due to landslides and rockfalls. The disaster arrives as Afghanistan already faces significant socioeconomic challenges, including drought, economic weakness, and the return of displaced persons from neighboring countries.