A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck southern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing over 20 and injuring more than 115.

The quake hit near Basawul in Nangarhar province at a shallow depth of 10 km, with tremors felt as far as Kabul and Islamabad.

Nangarhar and Kunar provinces faced the heaviest destruction, with villages wiped out, homes buried under rubble, and roads cut off by landslides and waterlogging.

Authorities urged global assistance, stressing the need for helicopters as many areas remain accessible only by air.

Hospitals in Nangarhar struggled to treat the injured, while locals lined up to donate blood in support of victims.

Officials fear the death toll will rise once remote villages are reached. Afghanistan lies on a dangerous tectonic fault line, making it prone to devastating quakes—over 1,000 people were killed in a 5.9-magnitude earthquake in June 2022.