Afghanistan 6.0-magnitude earthquake leaves at least 20 dead and Taliban appeal for aid

A devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake has claimed the lives of at least 20 people and injured over 100 in eastern Afghanistan, according to local health officials.

The quake struck near the Pakistan border at 11.47pm local time (8.17pm UK time) on Sunday, according to the US Geological Survey. The scientific body said this caused "severe shaking" and widespread aftershocks, with "significant casualties likely."

Buildings from Kabul to Pakistan's capital Islamabad, approximately 370 kilometres away, were reportedly shaken for several seconds. A second earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.5, hit the same province about 20 minutes later, followed by a 5.2 earthquake at the same depth.

In some of the worst hit areas of Kunar province, the earthquake also triggered landslides that has made the region inaccesible via road. Sources speaking to the BBC confirmed that four emergency helicopters were dispatched to the province, but much more help was needed.

Taliban officials are appealing to international organisations to send more helicopters to assist in the aftermath of the disaster due to the administration's limited resources, with the vast majority of rescue efforts having to be carried out by air.

"Unfortunately, tonight's earthquake has had human casualties and financial damages in some of our eastern provinces," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah said in a statement on X.

Regime officials told the BBC that dozens of homes are now lying under rubble, with fears that hundreds could have been injured during the repeated earthquakes that hit the region on Sunday.

Earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, located near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. One of the worst to hit the region was in 2022, when 4000 people were killed or injured after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake flattened buildings in the east of the country.