BBC news reported that at least 20 people were killed after the quake. Local officials said to BBC that more than 115 injured people were taken to hospitals in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.
Naqibullah Rahimi, spokesperson for the Nangarhar Public Health Department, told Reuters that at least nine people had died and 15 others were injured.
The earthquake was felt across Pakistan and northern India, including Delhi-NCR, where residents experienced strong tremors. Buildings shook,
The 6.3-magnitude quake was followed by several aftershocks, measuring 4.7, 4.3, and two shocks of 5.0 on the Richter scale.
All these tremors are classified as either shallow or intermediate earthquakes, based on their depth. Shallow and intermediate quakes are considered more dangerous than deep ones because their seismic waves have a shorter distance to travel to the surface. This results in stronger shaking, greater damage to structures, and potentially higher casualties.
In recent years, Afghanistan and the neighbouring Himalayan belt have seen a worrying rise in seismic activity. The latest jolt serves as another reminder of the region’s fragile and vulnerable geology.
