Massive 6.0 Earthquake Rocks Eastern Afghanistan, Leaving Over 800 Dead

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First Thing: magnitude 6 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan leaves at least 800 dead
An Afghan boy with injuries receives medical care after the earthquake. Photograph: Aimal Zahir/AFP/Getty Images

Good morning, everyone!

Tragic news coming from eastern Afghanistan, where a powerful earthquake has caused extensive devastation. Officials from the Taliban disclosed that over 800 lives were lost, and around 2,500 individuals are injured due to this calamity.

A magnitude 6 tremor hit around midnight on Sunday, impacting four provinces, with the mountainous area of Kunar being the hardest hit. The quake sparked dangerous landslides and flooding in the terrain.

This earthquake was particularly shallow, occurring close to the Earth’s surface, which usually leads to more severe damage. Many aftershocks were felt throughout the night and into Monday morning, with vibrations even reaching Kabul, more than 100 miles away.

  • Will the number of casualties increase? Unfortunately, yes. Local hospitals are overwhelmed with a steady flow of injured persons, and many still remain unaccounted for. Health workers at the Asadabad hospital in Kunar described the scenario as a highly critical situation.

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