The second quake, measured at a magnitude of 5.5, struck near Nangarhar Province, approximately 34 km northeast of Jalalabad, according to the USGS | Credit: X/PathanBhaiii
Just two days after a deadly earthquake of magnitude 6 shook eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 1,400 people, another tremor shook the region on Tuesday, further worsening the situation.
This second quake, measured at a magnitude of 5.5, struck near Nangarhar Province, approximately 34 km northeast of Jalalabad, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It hit at a shallow depth of around 10 km. Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage than those that occur deeper beneath the Earth's surface.
Over 5,400 houses have been destroyed and over 3,000 people injured, and entire villages flattened | Credit: X/KazananAslan
The region's infrastructure is weak and doesn't support earthquakes, and many homes and roads were already destroyed and damaged in Sunday's earthquake. According to Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, over 5,400 houses have been destroyed and over 3,000 people injured, and entire villages flattened.
In many places, rescue operations are still underway. Families remain trapped under debris, and the terrain of the region has made it difficult to get help to remote areas. The fresh quake on Tuesday has only made these efforts harder.
Families remain trapped under debris, and the terrain of the region has made it difficult to get help to remote areas | Credit: X/NaeemRehmanEngr
More people are feared to be trapped under the rubble, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society, a humanitarian organization active in the region. The UN coordinator in Afghanistan also warned that the death toll is likely to rise.
Rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions have hampered rescue efforts in remote areas near the Pakistani border, where the earthquake destroyed hundreds of mud-and-brick homes.
Emergency workers are racing against time, using helicopters and limited medical supplies to help survivors. Some injured have been airlifted to hospitals, and doctors have been sent to help.
On Tuesday, a convoy of ambulances was seen navigating the damaged mountain roads toward villages in Kunar, while helicopters delivered relief supplies and airlifted the injured to nearby hospitals, according to a Reuters witness.
Several countries have begun sending aid. India had delivered food and tents, while China, the UAE, and the UK have pledged various forms of support. However, due to political tensions and limited access, the international response has been slow.
Some injured have been airlifted to hospitals, and doctors have been sent to help | Credit: X/MJalalAf
Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian plates meet. This marks the third major earthquake since the Taliban took power in 2021, adding to Afghanistan's mounting crises.
With weak infrastructure and limited resources, even moderate quakes turn deadly. The country is already grappling with severe aid cuts, a struggling economy, and the forced return of millions from Iran and Pakistan.