Afghanistan’s southeastern provinces were jolted once again last night as a powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 struck near the Pakistan border. This marks the third major quake in just four days, compounding the devastation already inflicted on vulnerable communities.
According to the German Research Center for Geosciences, the epicenter was located in the Shiwa district, close to the Pakistan frontier, with a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles). Initial reports indicate damage in Barkash Kot, though assessments from remote areas are still underway.
The provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar have been the hardest hit, with thousands of homes reduced to rubble. Taliban authorities confirmed that over the past four days, three earthquakes have claimed at least 2,205 lives and injured another 3,640 people.
Rescue workers continue to dig through the debris in search of survivors. On Thursday, emergency teams recovered several bodies from collapsed structures, while displaced families remain exposed to the elements, struggling to survive under harsh conditions.
The United Nations and international aid agencies have warned of critical shortages of food, medical supplies, and shelter in the quake-stricken regions. They cautioned that thousands of lives are at risk as limited access to remote mountainous areas is slowing down relief efforts.
The first quake on Sunday, measured at 6.0 magnitude, is already being described as one of Afghanistan’s deadliest in recent years, devastating Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. It was followed on Tuesday by a 5.5 magnitude tremor that disrupted rescue operations and triggered rockfalls, cutting off several villages from outside contact.
