Afghanistan has been hit by its second earthquake in just a few days, following a major quake that killed at least 1,400 people.
The newest quake, measuring 5.2 in magnitude, struck on Tuesday, Sept. 2, about 21 miles (34 kilometers) northeast of the city of Jalalabad, at a depth of 6 miles (10 kilometers), according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
This tremor comes as a Taliban government spokesperson said on Tuesday that the death toll from the 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Sunday, Aug. 31, has risen to over 1,411, with more than 3,000 people injured, The Guardian reported.
Sunday’s earthquake affected Kunar province, near Jalalabad, as well as nearby provinces like Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan, and Panjshir, according to Hasht-e Sobh and Khaama Press.
Many people were trapped under collapsed buildings, and the mountainous terrain has made rescue work very difficult, Afghan outlet Hewad reported.
At the time of Sunday’s quake, the Taliban government used helicopters to rescue people because landslides and rough terrain made it hard to provide aid.
The United Nations said on Tuesday that aid workers are still rushing to help survivors. Indrika Ratwatte, the U.N.’s top aid official in Afghanistan, said the disaster’s effects could reach “hundreds of thousands,” including destroyed homes, injuries, deaths, lost livestock, and damaged livelihoods.
The U.N. said its humanitarian air service has arranged more flights between Jalalabad and Kabul to bring in personnel and supplies to help with relief efforts.
Ratwatte added that Afghanistan has faced long-term humanitarian problems. Half the population needs help, and droughts have made food shortages worse.
“The earthquake comes at a time where vulnerable communities are going to be super-exposed to additional stresses,” Ratwatte said.
On Tuesday, deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said rescue efforts are still ongoing.
“Dozens of commandos have been airlifted to areas where planes could not land to pull out the injured from the rubble and transport them to a suitable location,” Fitrat said, according to ABC News.
Meanwhile, Britain has donated $1.35 million for the U.N. and Red Cross relief work, and India has sent 1,000 family tents to Kabul and is transporting 15 tons of food to Kunar, Al Jazeera reported.
The European Union also approved $1.16 million in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. Officials said the EU is providing 130 tons of relief supplies, including tents and clothing.
“Afghanistan remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with nearly 23 million people estimated to need humanitarian assistance this year,” the EU said. “Some 12.6 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity, and mass repatriations of Afghans from neighbouring countries in past months have further increased the population’s needs.”
