Afghanistan was struck by yet another earthquake early this morning, marking the third tremor in a 24-hour period. The latest quake, which hit at 3:16 AM, registered a magnitude of 4.9. This follows significant seismic activity, with previous earthquakes measuring 5.8 and 4.8. The devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the Kunar province on August 31st has caused the death toll to exceed 2200.
The grim milestone was reached following the discovery of hundreds of bodies in the rubble of collapsed homes. A spokesperson for the Taliban government announced this on Thursday.
The powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake on Sunday, August 31st, caused extensive destruction throughout several provinces. Villages were flattened, with residents trapped under the debris of homes made from mud, raw bricks, and wood. The hardest-hit area was Kunar, where communities live in valleys surrounded by mountains.
Search and rescue missions are ongoing. Temporary shelters and essential medical aid are being provided. Relief efforts are hampered by inadequate infrastructure and a lack of funds. Aid organizations are requesting additional support from international donors.
The earthquake’s epicenter was 27 kilometers from Jalalabad, Afghanistan’s fifth-largest city, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. The earthquake caused widespread damage to homes built with mud and stone. The tremors were felt as far away as Islamabad, Pakistan, 400 kilometers away. Remote mountainous regions, where mobile service is limited and roads are blocked by landslides, have been particularly affected.