A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province late Sunday, leaving at least 250 dead and 500 injured across multiple districts, according to the state-owned Bakhtar News Agency. The quake – one of the deadliest to hit the region in recent years – has triggered urgent rescue operations in remote mountainous areas where infrastructure remains fragile.
Local authorities report entire villages suffered severe damage, with landslides blocking critical roads and hampering emergency response efforts. Survivors face dwindling supplies as night temperatures drop, while hospitals in provincial capitals struggle to accommodate the influx of injured.
"This disaster compounds existing humanitarian challenges in a region still recovering from last year's floods," said a UN relief coordinator monitoring the situation. International aid organizations are mobilizing teams, though access remains limited due to the rugged terrain.
The earthquake highlights Asia's persistent vulnerability to natural disasters, particularly in areas with limited disaster preparedness systems. Seismologists note Afghanistan's location along active tectonic boundaries makes it prone to frequent seismic activity.
