Kabul: About 622 people were killed in an earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan, authorities said on Monday. The quake of magnitude 6 injured more than 1,500, the Afghan interior ministry said in a statement.

According to Emirates News Agency, the United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake struck at a depth of 8 kilometres, approximately 27 kilometres northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province, near the border with Pakistan. The impact has caused significant casualties and injuries, prompting an urgent response from local and international aid agencies.

Rescue operations are underway as authorities and volunteers work to find survivors and provide medical assistance to those affected. The earthquake has caused widespread damage to infrastructure, complicating rescue efforts and access to remote areas. Emergency services are focusing on reaching the most severely affected regions to assist those in dire need.

The Afghan government has called for international aid to support the ongoing relief efforts. The situation remains critical as additional aftershocks may further hamper rescue and recovery operations. The global community is closely monitoring the situation to provide necessary assistance to the affected population.