Devastating Earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan Kills Over 800, Injures Thousands:

More than 800 people have been killed and at least 2,800 injured after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, making it one of the deadliest quakes in the country’s recent history. The magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit just before midnight, shaking the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar, where entire villages have been reduced to rubble. As rescue operations continue, officials warn that the death toll is likely to rise, with many still trapped under collapsed homes and debris. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that at least 812 people have died so far. He called it a national tragedy that adds to the many challenges facing Afghanistan, a nation already strained by years of conflict, economic hardship, and a decline in humanitarian aid. Emergency teams have been dispatched to the worst-hit areas. The Ministry of Defence reported that 30 doctors and nearly 800 kilograms of medical supplies have been flown into Kunar province to support overwhelmed local hospitals. More than 40 military flights have transported at least 420 of the injured and deceased to better-equipped facilities. Local residents have been playing a critical role in the rescue efforts. In Maza Dara, one of the hardest-hit areas in Kunar, survivor Sadiqullah shared his harrowing experience. Speaking from a hospital bed in Nangarhar Regional Hospital, he recalled being jolted awake by a deep rumble. “I ran to where my children were sleeping and managed to save three of them,” he said. “But I couldn’t reach the rest of my family before the roof collapsed on top of me. I was half-buried for hours until people came from nearby villages and pulled me out.” Sadiqullah lost his wife and two sons in the quake. His father is among the injured and is being treated in the same hospital. Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani told Reuters that rescue teams are doing everything they can to accelerate relief operations and provide “comprehensive and full support” to affected communities. However, the mountainous terrain and poor infrastructure are hampering access to remote villages. Experts say the shallow depth of the earthquake made it especially destructive. Professor Chris Elders, a geologist from Curtin University in Australia, explained that the combination of unstable buildings and mountainous terrain greatly increases the risk of landslides. “When the ground shakes in these regions, not only do buildings collapse, but entire hillsides can give way, burying everything below,” Elders said. He also warned that aftershocks could cause further destruction and panic in the coming days. Afghanistan lies in a seismically active region near the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it vulnerable to frequent and sometimes deadly earthquakes. In October 2023, more than 2,000 people were killed in another major quake in the country’s western regions. With many communities still waiting for assistance, aid groups are calling for urgent international support. As survivors mourn their losses and search for loved ones, the resilience of Afghanistan’s people is once again being tested—this time by the forces of nature.

NEWS