The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan over the weekend has surged to more than 2,200, marking it as the deadliest quake in decades to hit the country.
The magnitude-6.0 earthquake, which shook the mountainous region bordering Pakistan late Sunday, caused the most devastation in Kunar province. According to the Taliban government, 2,205 people were killed and 3,640 injured in the province.
Neighboring provinces Nangarhar and Laghman also reported casualties, with 12 deaths and hundreds more injured.
Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise further as volunteers and rescue teams continue to recover bodies from collapsed homes.
Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat shared the latest figures on X on Thursday, stating: "Hundreds of bodies have been recovered from destroyed houses during search and rescue operations. Rescue efforts are still ongoing."
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)