A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near Jalalabad, killing at least 1,400 people and injuring more than 3,100, according to Taliban officials. The quake, which hit around midnight local time, devastated remote mountainous areas, making it difficult to quickly assess the full extent of casualties and destruction. Afghan Public Health Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said rescue operations have been launched, with hundreds mobilized to provide aid. Taliban security forces evacuated victims by military helicopter, with more than 3,000 people admitted to hospitals across the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar.

International relief efforts are also underway, with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres announcing the deployment of a U.N. team to assist in the crisis. Several global organizations, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, are providing emergency support to those affected. With thousands displaced and critical infrastructure damaged, officials warn that it may take significant time before the full scope of the disaster is known.

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SOURCE: VIN News