At least 622 people have been killed and 1,555 others injured after powerful earthquakes struck eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nangarhar provinces on Sunday night, officials confirmed. The tremors also caused widespread destruction to homes and infrastructure, leaving thousands without shelter.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the worst impact was reported in Kunar, where 610 people lost their lives and around 1,300 others were injured. In Nangarhar, 12 deaths and 255 injuries have been recorded so far.

Abdul Matin Qani, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, said local authorities have been directed to provide immediate assistance to the affected families. He added that Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani has personally overseen relief directives.

The earthquakes struck late at night, catching residents in their homes. Villages near the epicenter reported severe damage. Dr Muladad, the head of provincial hospital in Nangarhar province, described the situation as a “crisis”.

Eastern Afghanistan is one of the country’s most earthquake-prone areas due to its position along major fault lines. In 2023, a series of quakes in the Herat province killed more than 1,000 people. In 2022, Paktika province was struck by an earthquake, which also killed more than 1,000, highlighting the region’s high seismic risk.