Kabul, Sep 05 (V7N) – A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan on Thursday, leaving a trail of devastation and marking the third major quake since Sunday. The powerful tremor has killed more than 2,200 people and injured at least 3,640, according to Reuters.

The German Research Center for Geosciences confirmed the quake, with its epicenter located in the remote Shiba district near the Pakistan border. Naqibullah Rahimi, spokesperson for the Nangarhar provincial health department, said initial reports of destruction came from the Barkashqat area, though data is still being gathered. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Earlier, strong earthquakes in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces destroyed numerous villages, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. Rescue teams continued to recover bodies from the rubble on Thursday, as landslides and blocked roads hampered relief operations.

The United Nations and international aid agencies have warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe, with emergency supplies of food, medicine, and shelter running dangerously low.

“Everything we had has been destroyed. Now all we have is the clothes we have on our backs,” said Alem Jan, a resident of Kunar province, describing how his family is now sheltering under a tree with their few remaining belongings.

The disaster follows a 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Sunday and a 5.5-magnitude tremor on Tuesday, both of which triggered landslides and further blocked access to remote regions. Aid agencies fear the death toll could rise further as rescue efforts continue.

END/SMA/AJ