Afghanistan Earthquake Leaves Over 800 Dead and Thousands Injured
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, killing at least 800 people and injuring more than 1,300 others, according to Taliban officials.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake’s epicenter was just 17 miles from Jalalabad, a major city near the Pakistan border. The powerful tremor struck around midnight local time, shaking remote mountain villages where poorly built homes quickly collapsed.
Massive Rescue Operations Underway
Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Public Health Ministry, said rescue operations have been launched despite the difficult terrain.
“It will take time to get the exact figures of casualties and infrastructure damage,” he said, adding that hundreds of people have been mobilized to help survivors.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the death toll had climbed to at least 800 lives lost. Afghan Interior Ministry officials earlier reported 622 fatalities across the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar, both badly hit by the disaster.
Hospitals in the region are overwhelmed. Authorities say at least 1,000 injured victims have been evacuated to medical facilities. The United Nations has deployed emergency teams, with UNICEF, WHO, and the International Organization for Migration providing urgent humanitarian assistance.
Survivors Describe Night of Horror
Villagers caught under rubble recounted the terrifying moments. One survivor, Sadiqullah, said he was jolted awake by a loud boom before his home collapsed.
“I was half buried and unable to get out. My wife and two sons are dead. My father is in the hospital with me,” he said, describing how he was trapped for hours before rescuers arrived.
Videos from Kunar show entire homes reduced to rubble, with rescuers pulling survivors from collapsed mud-brick structures. Helicopters were seen airlifting the wounded from isolated mountain communities.
Aftershocks Continue to Shake the Region
The USGS reported at least five aftershocks ranging between 4.5 and 5.2 magnitude on Monday. Experts warn that aftershocks can sometimes be even more destructive than the main quake, posing fresh risks for already weakened structures.
Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location on the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plate boundary. Shallow quakes, like this one at a depth of only 5 miles, tend to cause severe destruction.
Similar disasters have struck the country in recent years:
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In 2022, a 5.9-magnitude quake in eastern Afghanistan killed around 1,000 people.
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In 2023, three powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquakes rocked Herat province within a week, killing thousands.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
This tragedy comes as Afghanistan battles one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The country faces four consecutive years of drought, widespread hunger, and the return of more than 2.3 million Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan in 2024 alone.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) warned last week that below-average crop production and reduced livestock income are leaving families with little food stock for the winter.
Decades of war, including the 20-year U.S.-Taliban conflict, have further crippled the country. Today, 23 million Afghans — nearly half the population — rely on humanitarian aid.
Until recently, the United States was Afghanistan’s single largest humanitarian donor. However, under Donald Trump’s administration, Washington cut an estimated $1.7 billion in aid, including emergency food supplies, worsening conditions for millions.
Looking Ahead
With destroyed villages, overwhelmed hospitals, and a fragile economy, Afghanistan faces a long road to recovery. Rescue teams continue searching for survivors, but officials fear the death toll may rise further in the coming days.