Afghanistan Earthquake Kills Over 1,400 as Rescuers Struggle to Reach Remote Villages
Rescue operations are underway in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province after a powerful earthquake claimed the lives of at least 1,411 people and left more than 3,124 injured, according to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.
Thousands of Homes Destroyed
The earthquake flattened around 5,412 houses, Mujahid confirmed in a post on X. Local disaster management chief Ehsanullah Ehsan said teams are working to access the mountainous regions, but reaching survivors remains difficult.
“We still don’t know how many victims may be trapped under the rubble,” Ehsan said. “Our priority is to complete search operations quickly and begin delivering aid to affected families.”
Many of the wounded have been transferred to hospitals in Nangarhar province and Kabul.
Series of Quakes Strike the Region
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported another tremor on Tuesday—a magnitude 5.2 quake at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The deadly earthquake, which struck late Sunday night, was a magnitude 6 shallow quake, with its epicenter at just 8 km (5 miles) deep, making it one of the deadliest in Afghanistan’s quake-prone history.
Mountain Villages Cut Off
The disaster hit hardest in remote mud-brick villages near the Pakistan border. Blocked mountain roads and landslides have left entire communities isolated, forcing rescuers to rely on helicopters.
Obaidullah Stoman, 26, who traveled to Wadir village in Kunar’s Nugral district, described the devastation: “There’s only rubble left. I came here to find my friend, but I can’t see him anywhere. The situation is unbearable.”
A 14-year-old survivor named Akhlaq, who lost five family members, recalled:
“Our whole house collapsed. My brothers and father were buried. I was the only one who escaped. Later, I heard my father’s voice and managed to pull him out.”
Aid Efforts Face ‘Extremely Challenging’ Conditions
The United Nations humanitarian coordinator, Indrika Ratwatte, said rescue missions were hampered by “landslides and rock falls,” severely restricting access in the first 24 hours.
The World Health Organization (WHO) added that broken roads and overwhelmed local health facilities have left communities dependent on international aid. More than 12,000 people are believed to have been affected so far.
Homa Nader of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies told Al Jazeera:
“It is nearly impossible to reach many villages. Heavy machinery is being used to clear roads, but conditions remain extremely challenging. Sadly, the death toll will likely rise as rescuers reach more remote areas.”
International Support Pours In
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United Kingdom: Emergency funding for healthcare and critical supplies.
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India: Delivered 1,000 family tents to Kabul and shipped 15 tonnes of food to Kunar.
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European Union: Sending 130 tonnes of emergency supplies and €1 million ($1.16m) in aid.
Afghanistan’s History of Deadly Quakes
Afghanistan sits at the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it highly vulnerable to earthquakes. The most recent large-scale tragedy struck in October 2023, when over 2,000 people were killed in Herat province.