A powerful 6.0 earthquake rattles the eastern region of Afghanistan close to the Pakistan border.

In a tragic turn of events, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit near the Pakistan border in eastern Afghanistan on October 7, 2023. The quake, which was later confirmed to be a magnitude 6.3 earthquake, occurred at 11:47 p.m., causing widespread destruction and loss of life.

The epicentre of the earthquake was 27 kilometres east-northeast of the bustling city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. Jalalabad, known for its proximity to Pakistan and a key border crossing between the countries, is a significant trade city with considerable agriculture and farming, including citrus fruit and rice, and the Kabul River flowing through it.

The earthquake was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory, with the Taliban government estimating that at least 4,000 people perished in the disaster. However, the United Nations (U.N.) gave a lower death toll of about 1,500, and they have not reported on the number of injured individuals.

Naqibullah Rahimi, a spokesman for the Nangarhar Public Health Department, reported 15 injuries from the earthquake. Most of Jalalabad's buildings are low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, but the outlying areas include homes built of mud bricks and wood, many of which are of poor construction.

The injured individuals were taken to the hospital for treatment, but the U.N. has not reported on the number of injured individuals from the earthquake. The Taliban government did not provide information about the number of injured individuals.

The earthquake occurred just 8 kilometres deep, making it a shallower quake, and was followed by strong aftershocks. The depth of the earthquake was not mentioned in the article.

Jalalabad has a population of about 300,000 according to the municipality, with a metropolitan area thought to be far larger, and an estimated population of approximately 356,274 people in the metropolitan region.

This devastating earthquake has left a profound impact on the people of Afghanistan, and the international community is rallying to provide aid and support in the aftermath of this disaster.