Two strong aftershocks jolted eastern Afghanistan within 12 hours, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) reported on Friday. The tremors have triggered fresh concerns of casualties in a region already devastated by recent earthquakes.
The aftershocks follow a series of powerful quakes that have left the South Asian country reeling. According to the Taliban administration, at least 2,205 people have died and over 3,600 others have been injured since Sunday. Rescue teams continue to struggle as fresh tremors disrupt relief efforts.
The latest quake, measuring 5.4 magnitude, struck early Friday in the southeast at a depth of 10 kilometers. Just hours earlier, a 5.5 magnitude shock hit late Thursday night. Both quakes were centered in Nangarhar province, near the border with Pakistan.
Earlier in the week, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck shortly before midnight on Sunday, one of the deadliest in recent years. It caused widespread destruction in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. A second quake on Tuesday triggered landslides, blocking access to remote villages and delaying emergency response.
Local officials said thousands of houses, mostly made of stone, timber, and mud, have collapsed. Many families are choosing to remain outdoors, fearing further tremors. Survivors are now facing shortages of food, clean water, and shelter.
Health department spokesperson Naqibullah Rahimi confirmed that Shiwa district in Nangarhar was the epicenter of Thursday’s quake. Initial reports suggest additional damage to infrastructure, though assessments are still underway.
The United Nations and aid agencies have appealed for urgent international support. They warn that survivors in quake-affected areas of Afghanistan remain vulnerable, with critical needs for medical supplies and humanitarian relief.
Earthquakes are common in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. The recent sequence of tremors has once again highlighted the fragile living conditions of communities in the area.
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