A devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, killing more than 800 people and injuring thousands, according to Taliban officials. The majority of the casualties were reported in the mountainous Kunar province, where entire villages were reduced to rubble.
Rising Death Toll and Widespread Destruction
Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters in Kabul that at least 800 people died and 2,500 others were injured in Kunar alone. In neighboring Nangarhar province, 12 people were confirmed dead and 255 injured. Authorities warned that the toll could rise further as rescue teams continue to search through remote hamlets, many of which remain cut off due to blocked roads and landslides.
The quake, which struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, razed three villages completely and caused substantial damage in many others. Local officials reported that most homes, built of mud and stone, collapsed instantly under the force of the tremors.
Rescue and Relief Operations
Military rescue teams have been deployed to the affected provinces, with helicopters and ambulances ferrying the dead and injured to hospitals. The Afghan defence ministry said that 40 flights had transported around 420 victims, while medics and soldiers worked side by side with residents to pull survivors from the debris.
Ministry spokesperson Abdul Maten Qanee said: “All our teams have been mobilised to accelerate assistance, so that comprehensive and full support can be provided.” He confirmed that emergency relief efforts are covering food, medical care, and shelter, though resources are stretched thin due to Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
International Response and Regional Solidarity
So far, no foreign governments have announced direct assistance for rescue or relief operations, according to Afghanistan’s foreign office. The lack of international aid compounds the challenges facing a country already struggling with dwindling humanitarian support and large-scale repatriation of refugees from neighboring states.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences, saying he was “deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan” and offered Islamabad’s “all possible support” in relief efforts.
The quake is Afghanistan’s deadliest since June 2022, when a 6.1-magnitude tremor killed over 1,000 people in the eastern provinces.
