A 6.0 magnitude earthquake has left at least 600 dead in eastern Afghanistan

At least 600 people have died and nearly 2,000 have been injured after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake and several replicas hit eastern Afghanistan, official sources have reported.

"In the districts of Nurgal, Sawkay, Watapur, Dara Pech and Chapi Dara, some 600 peoplehave died, some 2,000 have been injured and hundreds of homes destroyed by the earthquake, "said Kunar's Director of Information and Culture, Ihsanullah Ihsan.

The United States Geological Service (USGS) has reported that the epicenter of the main earthquake has been 6.0 magnitude, about 27 kilometres east of Nangarhar province and eight kilometres deep.

The initial tremor was recorded at 23:47 on Sunday (19:17 GMT), followed by two replicas of at least 5.2 degrees.

Rescue teams have been workingsince early morning to find survivors in the rubble, but landslides have blocked key roads in Kunar and Nuristan, making the operation difficult.

The earthquakes were felt strongly in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan and Laghman, and the shocks reached the capital, Kabul.

The Taliban have highlighted the importance of the disaster. "Unfortunately, the earthquake has caused deaths and material damage in some of our eastern provinces," their spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, wrote on the X social network.

"Local officials and residents are engaged in rescue work. Support teams from the center and neighbouring provinces are also on their way. All available resources will be used to save lives," he added.

In Nuristan, authorities have confirmed that residents have suffered major shocks, but have ensured that no casualties or material damage have been reported so far.

"There have also been strong tremors in the province, but so far no reports of human losses or material have been received," said the Nuristan Director of Information and Culture.

The number of dead and wounded may increase in the next few hours as rescue work progresses.

Kunar Province, the most affected so far, is on the border with Pakistan in the Hindu Kush mountain range. Road insecurity and the lack of access to rural communications have made damage assessment and aid coordination difficult.