The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, sent “a message of condolences to the Afghan people” on Monday due to the earthquake that caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.
“The President of the Republic expresses a message of condolences to the Afghan people affected by the devastating effects of the earthquake that resulted in hundreds of fatalities and numerous injuries,” reads a statement on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s message follows a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also expressed that the “Portuguese government deeply regrets the consequences of the earthquake in Afghanistan.”
“The Portuguese government deeply regrets the devastating consequences of the earthquake in Afghanistan, which resulted in hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries,” states a note from the ministry led by Paulo Rangel on social media platform X.
The note further adds that Portugal “expresses solidarity with the Afghan people and is prepared to support the rescue operations by the UN and the Red Crescent.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “solidarity with the Afghan people” and indicated that Portugal is available to “support the UN and Red Crescent rescue operations” in Afghanistan.
It is noteworthy that eastern Afghanistan was struck by a 6.0 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale, followed by several aftershocks on Sunday night.
The earthquake, registering a magnitude of 6 on the Richter scale, occurred at 11:47 PM local time (8:17 PM in Lisbon) and was followed by at least two tremors of magnitude 5.2.
According to the latest update from the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, at least 800 people died and more than 2,700 were injured as a result of the earthquake.
The new figures, provided by government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid at a press conference in Kabul, indicate that in the province of Kunar alone, 800 deaths and 2,500 injuries were recorded.
Additionally, there were 12 deaths and 255 injuries in the neighboring province of Nangahar, where the earthquake’s epicenter was located, with the hypocenter just eight kilometers below the surface.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter of the earthquake was situated 42 kilometers from Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, at a depth of just eight kilometers, exacerbating the level of destruction.
The tremors caused numerous landslides that blocked the few existing roads, completely isolating dozens of villages.
Mujahid promised in a statement released by Tolo News that the authorities will use all resources to aid the population and that rescue teams from provinces near the quake’s epicenter will provide assistance to those affected.
Earthquakes frequently hit Afghanistan, especially in the Hindu Kush range near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
