Payam Javan: A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, leaving at least 800 people dead and more than 2,500 injured, according to Taliban officials. The quake, centered near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, caused widespread destruction in nearby Kunar province, where most of the casualties were reported. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the tremor struck at 11:47 p.m. local time, just five miles deep, making it especially destructive. Several aftershocks followed, further worsening the situation.

Footage from the scene showed desperate survivors clawing through rubble with their bare hands while rescuers used stretchers and helicopters to evacuate the injured. Many of the buildings that collapsed were poorly constructed mud-brick and wood structures common in rural Afghanistan, which are highly vulnerable to seismic activity. The disaster once again highlighted the country’s fragile infrastructure and limited emergency response capacity.

Jalalabad, a key trade hub near the Pakistan border with a population of around 300,000, was also affected. The city is known for its agriculture and bustling markets, but the quake disrupted daily life and raised fears of further casualties. The tragedy comes less than a year after a devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake killed thousands in western Afghanistan, underscoring the country’s recurring vulnerability to deadly seismic disasters.