A fresh magnitude-5.2 aftershock has struck eastern Afghanistan - two days after a powerful quake in the same region killed more than 1,400 people and injured 3,000 others, according to the Taliban government.
Rescue efforts following Sunday’s magnitude-six quake have been complicated by landslides that have blocked roads, making land travel difficult. Helicopters have been deployed to aid the search for survivors in the ruins of remote villages, where many are feared trapped under the rubble.
The Taliban government, which is solely recognized by Russia, has appealed for international help. The UN has released emergency funds while the UK has pledged £1m ($1.3m) in aid.
Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes but Sunday’s tremor was one of the strongest to hit in recent years. The aftershock on Tuesday came at 12:29 (07:59 GMT) with its epicenter 34km (21 miles) away from Jalalabad, the country’s fifth-largest city, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It was shallow, at only 10km deep.
A BBC reporter in the Sawkai district – one of the worst affected areas in the northeastern Kunar province – said they felt a strong jolt. There are no reports of damage or new casualties.
Helicopters are being used to airlift survivors out of remote villages in Kunar province – where most of the deaths and injuries occurred. The terrain was so rough in one part of the Mazar Valley that one helicopter failed to land after three attempts, one Taliban source said.
Survivor Bas Marjana, a resident there, recalled the incident saying, “We were all in deep, peaceful sleep when... a sudden tremor struck, and the world turned upside down.” She shared the heart-wrenching news of losing eight of her grandchildren and her daughter-in-law.
Aid agencies, including Save the Children, have sent medical teams to Kunar province, noting that thousands are in urgent need of food, water, and shelter. Meanwhile, local hospitals are facing an overwhelming number of casualties, further complicating their efforts.
The recent earthquakes occur at a time when Afghanistan is suffering from severe drought and is amid an unparalleled hunger crisis, exacerbated by massive aid cuts this year, particularly from the US.
This disaster could not have come at a worse time for the nation. The UK’s Foreign Secretary announced that British aid will be channeled through experienced partners, including the UN Population Fund and the International Red Cross.
Countries like India, China, and Switzerland have also pledged support to help Afghanistan recover from this tragic disaster.
