Earthquake of 6.0 Magnitude Strikes Afghanistan, Hundreds Killed and Thousands Injured, Tremors Felt in India and Pakistan

International News: A massive earthquake struck the eastern part of Afghanistan near the Pakistan border late Sunday night. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), its magnitude was recorded at 6.0 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, and the depth was about 8 kilometers. The tremors were so strong that many houses collapsed, and a large number of people were buried under the rubble.

According to local health department spokesperson Ajmal Darvesh, 509 deaths have been confirmed so far in Nangarhar province alone, while more than a thousand people are injured. The injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals, where the condition of many is said to be critical.

Tremors felt in neighboring countries too

The intensity of the earthquake was so high that its impact was felt in neighboring countries too. In many areas of India, including Delhi-NCR, people came out of their houses in a hurry at midnight. The earth also shook in many parts of Pakistan. About 20 minutes after the first strong tremor, a second tremor was felt in the same area with a magnitude of 4.5 and a depth of 10 kilometers. This tremor occurred at 11:47 pm.

One of the deadliest disasters of recent years

Afghanistan has been facing frequent earthquakes in the last few years. Thousands of people lost their lives in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on 7 October 2023. The Taliban government at that time estimated about 4,000 deaths, while the United Nations put the death toll at around 1,500. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent years.

The earth shook for the fifth time in a month

This year, Afghanistan has experienced five earthquakes in the month of August alone. Tremors of 5.4 magnitude were felt on 27 August, 4.9 on 17 August, 4.2 on 13 August, and 4.3 on 8 August. This area is very sensitive from a geological point of view, as the Indian and Eurasian plates keep colliding here. This is the reason why earthquakes occur frequently in this region.

How is the intensity of an earthquake measured?

The strength of an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale. It is recorded in the range of 1 to 9. Its intensity is determined by measuring the energy released from within the earth during an earthquake. The higher the intensity, the more damage is likely to occur.