Jalalabad: A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing at least 250 people and injuring over 500 in Kunar and nearby provinces, local authorities said.

According to Qatar News Agency, the quake's epicenter was near Jalalabad at a shallow depth of around eight kilometers, intensifying the damage. Strong tremors were felt across eastern Afghanistan, neighboring Pakistan, and parts of northern India.

Entire villages in districts including Nurgal, Sawkay, Watapur, Manogay, and Chapa Dara were reported destroyed. Rescue operations are underway, but many areas remain cut off due to damaged roads and difficult terrain, as reported by Khaama Press Agency.

Afghanistan experiences frequent earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. A series of tremors measuring up to 6.3 on the Richter scale struck Herat Province in western Afghanistan in October 2023.