ADDS DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE
By Yasin Gungor
ISTANBUL (AA) - A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, with casualties reported.
Kunar province was the hardest hit, with 10 people declared dead and 50 injured, according to the BBC’s Pashto service.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at 11.47 pm local time (1917GMT), located 27 kilometers (16.7 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad at a depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles).
The Nangarhar Public Health Directorate reported that the injured were brought to a regional hospital.
Afghanistan interim administration spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the earthquake caused casualties.
"Sadly, tonight's earthquake has caused loss of life and property damage in some of our eastern provinces," he wrote on the US social media company X’s platform.
He did not indicate the exact number of deaths, however.
Mujahid said local officials and residents are engaged in rescue efforts, with support teams from central and nearby provinces heading to the area.
"All available resources will be utilized to save lives," he added.
At least two other earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.2 struck the same area following the major one, according to the USGS.