SaralnamaA powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on 17 Mar 2024 at 23 local time, killing more than 800 people and injuring nearly 3,000. The 6.0 magnitude quake hit 27 km east of Jalalabad, with Kunar province suffering the most deaths. Entire villages were destroyed in the remote mountainous area. Rescue efforts are hampered by blocked roads and limited access. The Taliban government has appealed for aid. Hospitals are overwhelmed with victims. The shallow quake, at 8 km depth, was felt 140 km away in Kabul and neighboring Pakistan. Afghanistan, situated on several fault lines, has faced deadly earthquakes before, with over 1,000 killed in Herat province in 2023. (Updated 1 Sep 2025, 21:15 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on 17 Mar 2024 at 23 local time, killing more than 800 people and injuring nearly 3,000
- The 6.0 magnitude quake hit 27 km east of Jalalabad, with Kunar province suffering the most deaths
- Entire villages were destroyed in the remote mountainous area