Afghanistan has been rocked by another earthquake, deepening the devastation from an earlier tremor just two days ago. On Tuesday (September 2), a 5.5-magnitude quake struck already ravaged areas, leaving residents in shock and heightening fears of rising casualties.
So far, at least 1,411 people have been confirmed dead and more than 3,100 injured. With many still trapped under rubble, officials warn the toll is likely to climb. Around 5,400 houses have been destroyed or damaged, leaving thousands homeless.
The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers—the same depth as the earlier 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Sunday that first shattered the region.
According to Reuters, rescue efforts were briefly suspended as panic spread following the fresh tremor. The quake also triggered additional landslides, cutting off vital access routes to the worst-hit areas.
A Reuters journalist visiting one of the devastated towns reported that nearly all homes had either collapsed or sustained severe damage. Buildings that survived Sunday’s quake crumbled under Tuesday’s aftershock.
Rescue teams are racing against time, though hopes of finding survivors beneath the debris are fading with each passing hour.
