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According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred on Sunday at 11:47 p.m. local time, about 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province.

About 20 minutes later, another quake measuring 4.5 struck the same region.

The Kunar Disaster Management Authority reported that at least 500 more people were injured in the districts of Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi, and Chapadare.

Health Ministry spokesman Sherafat Zaman said, "Rescue operations are still ongoing, and several villages have been completely destroyed."

He added that the number of dead and injured "is expected to change" as rescue teams continue to search the rubble of homes for survivors.

Jalalabad is a bustling trade city due to its proximity to neighboring Pakistan and being an important border crossing between the two countries.

According to municipal data, its population is around 300,000, though the metropolitan area is believed to be much larger.

Deadly earthquakes are common in Afghanistan: In 2023, a 6.3-magnitude quake followed by strong aftershocks struck Afghanistan, with the Taliban reporting at least 4,000 deaths.