6.0 magnitude earthquake rocks Afghanistan: At least 20 killed; tremors felt in Pakistan

More than 20 people have died after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, as reported by BBC. Over 115 injured individuals have been taken to hospitals in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. The US Geological Survey reported the shallow quake hit late Sunday night, followed by at least three aftershocks.

The US geological survey (USGS) reported reported that the quake hit at 11:47 pm local time (1917 GMT) at a shallow depth of 8 km, with its epicenter located 27 km east-northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province .

Provincial authorities said the children died when the roof of their home collapsed during the tremors. Initial assessments also reported multiple injuries.

The quake shook buildings for several seconds across eastern Afghanistan, with tremors also felt in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, around 370 km away, AFP journalists said.

Afghanistan is highly prone to seismic activity due to its location near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, particularly in the Hindu Kush region.

The quake comes just days after Nangarhar province was hit by heavy flooding from Friday night into Saturday, which killed five people and destroyed crops and property, local officials said.