One of the deadliest earthquakes to strike Afghanistan in recent years has left at least 812 people dead and more than 2,800 injured, according to authorities, as rescuers face mounting challenges reaching remote areas hit hardest by the disaster.
The magnitude 6 quake struck shortly after midnight at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its epicentre in the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar near the border with Pakistan. Officials said entire villages had been razed, with three villages in Kunar completely destroyed and widespread damage reported in others.
Relief Efforts Hampered
Rescue operations are being severely hampered by rugged mountainous terrain, blocked roads, and heavy weather conditions, while large parts of the affected area remain cut off from mobile networks. The widespread use of mudbrick homes, highly vulnerable to seismic shocks, has exacerbated the destruction.
Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that 610 deaths occurred in Kunar Province and at least 12 in Nangarhar, with numbers expected to rise as rescue teams gain access to isolated communities.
Call for International Aid
Afghanistan’s health ministry has urgently appealed for international assistance, citing the scale of devastation and limited domestic resources to respond. Relief agencies are warning of a humanitarian crisis, with thousands left homeless amid the destruction. The disaster underscores Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural calamities, compounded by ongoing economic challenges and limited infrastructure. The quake is among the most severe to hit the country in recent decades.
–Input WAM
