6.0-Magnitude Earthquake Kills Hundreds, Injures Thousands in Northeastern Afghanistan

A powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Afghanistan's northeastern Kunar province, near the Pakistan border, causing significant destruction and loss of life. Early reports indicate at least 500 people have died and around 1,000 injured, though officials caution that the toll could rise as many remote and mountainous areas remain difficult to access. Rescue efforts are ongoing amidst challenges posed by the region's rugged terrain and blocked roads due to landslides and flooding, with airlifts being used to deliver aid. The quake caused widespread damage, collapsing dozens of houses and trapping people under rubble, with tremors felt as far as Kabul and Islamabad. Afghanistan's vulnerability to earthquakes is heightened by its location in the Hindu Kush range where tectonic plates converge, with similar deadly quakes occurring in recent years. Authorities have appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance as they continue to assess and respond to the disaster.