Deadly Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan
A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s northeastern Kunar province late Sunday night, killing at least 250 people and injuring more than 500. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake hit at 11:47 pm local time (1917 GMT), about 27 km east-northeast of Jalalabad, a city of nearly 200,000 residents.
The tremors, which lasted several seconds, were felt across eastern Afghanistan and parts of neighboring Pakistan. Local officials warned that the death toll could rise as reports emerge from remote mountain villages.
“This is a major tragedy. Rescue teams are still in the field, but access is very difficult,” Health Minister Sharafat Zaman said in a statement.
Kunar and Nangarhar Worst Hit
The majority of casualties were reported in Kunar province, where dozens of mud and stone homes collapsed. Najibullah Hanif, Kunar’s provincial information head, confirmed that hundreds of injured survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals. At least nine deaths were also recorded in Nangarhar province.
Rescue efforts are underway in multiple districts, with rescuers combing through debris to find survivors. Witnesses described terrifying scenes as roofs and walls caved in during the midnight quake. Several children were among the victims, killed when their homes crumbled.
“The ground shook so violently that we thought the mountains would fall,” said Abdul Rahman, a resident of Kunar, recalling how he and his family escaped moments before their house collapsed.
Tremors Felt Across Borders
The shallow quake, occurring at a depth of just 8–10 km, triggered widespread panic across eastern Afghanistan. People in Jalalabad rushed into the streets as buildings shook violently. Tremors were also reported in Islamabad, nearly 370 km away, according to AFP.
In Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, residents reported aftershocks lasting several seconds. However, no major damage was immediately reported on the Pakistani side of the border.
Seismologists warned that aftershocks could continue in the coming days, increasing risks for already weakened structures. At least three aftershocks were confirmed following the main quake.
Afghanistan’s Vulnerability to Earthquakes
Afghanistan lies at the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, particularly near the seismic hotspot of the Hindu Kush region. This makes the country highly vulnerable to frequent and destructive earthquakes.
Much of the population lives in fragile mud-brick homes, which are unable to withstand even moderate tremors. Each disaster worsens the humanitarian crisis in a nation struggling with poverty, conflict, and inadequate infrastructure.
In recent years, earthquakes have killed thousands across Afghanistan. A 2022 quake in Paktika province left more than 1,000 dead, while last year another tremor in Herat claimed hundreds of lives. Relief efforts are often hampered by poor road access and limited rescue resources.
Relief and Rescue Operations
Authorities in Kunar confirmed that rescue teams are working with limited equipment to clear rubble and reach survivors. Hospitals in Jalalabad and surrounding towns are overwhelmed with casualties, while urgent appeals have been made for blood donations and medical supplies.
International aid agencies have expressed concern over the humanitarian fallout. The Red Crescent Society deployed volunteers to assist victims, while the World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating with local hospitals to provide emergency kits.
“People have lost everything — their homes, their families, their livelihoods. The scale of devastation is immense,” said a WHO field officer in Jalalabad.
The Afghan government has called on neighboring countries and international partners for urgent assistance, particularly air support to reach isolated districts in mountainous terrain.
Looking Ahead
Experts warn that recovery from the earthquake will be slow. With Afghanistan already facing economic hardship and political instability, the disaster adds another layer of difficulty for its population.
For survivors, the immediate priority remains shelter, food, and medical care. Aid workers stress that rebuilding efforts must include earthquake-resistant housing to reduce future risks.
As rescuers race against time to find those trapped beneath rubble, families across Kunar and Nangarhar are mourning loved ones. The earthquake serves as yet another reminder of Afghanistan’s fragile geography and the immense challenges faced by its people in the aftermath of natural disasters.