Four powerful aftershocks rattled eastern Afghanistan within 24 hours, further shaking a region already devastated by a series of earthquakes that have killed more than 2,200 people in recent days.
A magnitude 5.6 quake struck the country’s remote southeastern region on Thursday night — the third major tremor in less than a week — according to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ). The shallow quake hit at 8:56 p.m. local time (15:36 GMT), sending residents of Nangarhar and Kunar provinces fleeing from shelters in fear.
Two more aftershocks hit the eastern parts of the country early Friday morning, according to local Taliban officials and residents.
The Taliban governor’s office in Nangarhar said that 22 people, including women and children, were wounded in Nangarhar.
Moreover, nine people were wounded in the nieghboring Laghman province, according to Taliban officials.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Sunday’s initial earthquake killed at least 1,368 people and injured more than 2,180, based on reports from 25 villages.
A 5.5-magnitude quake on Tuesday temporarily halted rescue operations, which have relied heavily on helicopters due to landslides and blocked roads in the mountainous terrain.
“Rescue and search efforts are still ongoing. Tents have been set up in various areas, and the delivery of first aid and emergency supplies is underway,” Taliban Deputy Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said on X.
The back-to-back disasters have overwhelmed local resources and severely hampered access to remote communities. Aid officials warn that continued aftershocks may increase the risk of further casualties and destruction.
