6.0 magnitude earthquake shakes Afghanistan, dozens feared dead

New Delhi, Sept 1: A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday at a shallow depth of just 8km, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 100, officials told the BBC.

The quake, which was felt as far away as Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. over 300km from the epicentre caused widespread destruction in remote mountainous areas.

Multiple sources from the Taliban government said dozens of homes in the Mazar valley of Norgal district, Kunar province, have been buried under rubble, reports BBC. The area is affected and is difficult to access due to landslides and flooding.

Taliban authorities have appealed for urgent assistance from humanitarian organisations, warning that the death toll is likely to rise as rescue operations continue. Some affected villages can only be reached by air.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has suggested the quake could potentially result in hundreds of casualties, given the shallow depth and the poor construction of many rural homes.

Hospitals in the region are treating scores of injured, while residents continue to dig through collapsed structures in search of survivors.