Leaders of India, Iran and Pakistan expressed condolences and offered humanitarian aid Monday after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 800 people and injuring more than 2,500.
The Taliban’s chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the quake, which hit shortly after midnight Sunday, caused all fatalities in Kunar province, with an additional 12 deaths and 255 injuries reported in neighboring Nangarhar. Officials said four homes were also damaged in Panjshir province and warned that the toll could climb as many people remained trapped under rubble.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives” and pledged that India “stands ready to provide all possible humanitarian aid and relief to those affected.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a message of condolence and said his government was prepared to deliver assistance and humanitarian supplies to quake-hit areas.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the earthquake was felt in Kabul and parts of Pakistan, including Islamabad. “With reports confirming hundreds of precious human lives lost and villages destroyed, our hearts go out to the victims and their families,” he said, adding that Pakistan was ready to provide support.
The 6.0-magnitude quake struck near Asadabad in Kunar province at a depth of about 27 kilometers (17 miles) near Jalalabad, according to preliminary reports.
