A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border on the night of August 31, 2025, at approximately 11:47 p.m. local time. The epicenter was located 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province, at a shallow depth of about 8 kilometers.
The quake caused significant shaking felt by nearly half a million people in the region, including parts of Pakistan and India. According to Nangarhar health officials, at least nine people lost their lives, including two children killed by a collapsing roof, while 25 others were injured. Many structures sustained damage, especially those poorly built.
The earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks, including a strong 5.2 magnitude tremor and a 4.5 magnitude quake within 20 minutes of the initial event. Rescue and relief efforts are underway, with local officials and support teams mobilized from nearby provinces and the capital.
This event is reminiscent of the devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake in western Afghanistan in October 2023, which resulted in thousands of fatalities. Afghanistan remains prone to seismic activity due to its location near major tectonic plate boundaries.
Authorities have urged caution as aftershocks continue and have called for enhanced preparedness to mitigate the impacts of such natural disasters.