Earthquake In Panjshir Destroys Five Residential Homes

Local officials in Panjshir Province reported that five residential houses were either completely or partially destroyed following last night's earthquake in the Abshar district.

Mohibullah Jahed, head of the provincial disaster preparedness authority, said the figures are preliminary and the extent of damage could rise. He added that an assessment team has been dispatched to gather detailed information and verify potential casualties.

The powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan just before midnight, followed by at least five aftershocks by early Monday morning. Tremors were strongly felt across several provinces.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter was located about 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province, at a shallow depth of eight kilometers.

The earthquake also caused casualties and damage in the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, and Nuristan, where many mud-brick houses and hillside villages remain highly vulnerable to seismic activity.

This event highlights Afghanistan's frequent exposure to earthquakes, particularly in its eastern mountainous regions. The fragile housing structures and limited emergency resources significantly worsen the humanitarian impact of such disasters.

Sustained international and national cooperation will be essential, not only to provide immediate relief to affected families but also to strengthen long-term disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure across the region.

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