Rescue operations are underway after a catastrophic 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Nurgal District in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Sunday.
The earthquake flattened villages, destroyed more than 5,400 homes and left thousands homeless. More than 1,400 people have been killed and over 3,500 people have been injured in the quake, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in the region's recent history.
Teams from multiple agencies have been deployed for rescue at the epicenter, but they are facing severe challenges.
In the village of Wader in Nurgal District, a grim scene of destruction and sorrow has taken hold. With only five helicopters facilitating crucial transport operations, the injured are being airlifted to Nangarhar Province for urgent medical attention, while relief supplies are ferried back to support affected families in the area.
Volunteer groups, including the Afghan Red Crescent Society and various rescue teams, are working tirelessly on the ground, supported by government agencies including the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior Affairs.
The scale of devastation is immense, with entire families shattered by the loss of loved ones, predominantly women and children among the victims. Landslides have compounded the destruction, reducing once-thriving homes to mere debris scattered across the landscape.
Despite ongoing rescue operations, challenges remain due to limited resources and equipment, hindering efforts to reach all those in desperate need of aid.
Rescue operations underway at epicenter following Afghan 6.0-magnitude quake
Chinese researchers have successfully accelerated a ton-class test vehicle to 700 kilometers per hour within two seconds on a 400-meter magnetic levitation (maglev) track using a superconducting electromagnetic propulsion system, setting a new world record.
The currently world's fastest acceleration on such a platform was followed by a safe stop, according to the research team at National University of Defense Technology, who made the breakthrough after 10 years of efforts.
The breakthrough addressed several challenges in core technologies, including ultra-high-speed electromagnetic propulsion, electric levitation guidance, transient high-power energy storage inversion, and high-field superconducting magnets.
It makes China a global leader in developing ultra-high-speed maglev systems, offers the country a new option for the future development of vacuum tube maglev transportation, as well as new approaches and new means for aerospace-assisted launch and experimental testing.
The subsequent technological iterations and industrial applications of this achievement will inject new momentum into China's aviation, aerospace and rail transit industries.
"The success of our ultra-high-speed superconducting electric maglev system will speed up the development of China's ultra-high-speed maglev transportation. Next, our team will focus on ultra-high-speed tube maglev transportation, aviation and aerospace equipment testing, electromagnetic launch, and other cutting-edge areas while promoting closer collaboration among enterprises, universities, research institutes and end-users to contribute to independent innovation in defense technology," said Li Jie, a professor at the university.
China sets new record in superconducting maglev propulsion
