Villages wiped out in Afghanistan as earthquake kills more than 620 people

• A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late on Sunday, killing at least 620 people and injuring over 1,300, according to a Taliban government spokesman.
• The shallow quake, centred near Jalalabad in Kunar province, caused extensive damage, destroying numerous villages and many homes, particularly in remote, mountainous areas.
• Footage showed residents frantically digging through rubble for loved ones, with one villager from Nurgal district reporting almost the entire village had collapsed.
• Rescue operations are underway, with medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar, and Kabul deployed, though communications have been worsened by the quake.
• The Taliban government has pledged to utilise all available resources for rescue efforts, with casualty figures expected to rise as more reports come in.

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Afghanistan earthquake latest: At least 622 dead after 6.0-magnitude quake turns homes to rubble