A devastating earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 individuals and leaving approximately 3,000 others injured, according to a statement from the Taliban government on Tuesday. This disaster marks one of the most lethal seismic events to impact the nation in recent decades.
The number of casualties has continued to rise following the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck late Sunday night, wreaking havoc in remote regions of mountainous provinces adjacent to the Pakistan border.
On Tuesday, Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the Taliban government, reported via X that the death toll in the severely affected province of Kunar has reached 1,411, with an additional 3,124 individuals injured.
In a tragic incident, another dozen individuals lost their lives, and hundreds sustained injuries in the neighbouring Nangarhar province.
According to Indrika Ratwatte, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, the earthquake has the potential to affect “hundreds of thousands” of individuals.
On Tuesday, rescuers continued their urgent efforts to locate survivors amid the debris of homes that were destroyed in Kunar.
The head of the Kunar Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Ehsanullah Ehsan, informed AFP that emergency operations persisted throughout the night.
He stated that there are “still injured individuals remaining in the remote villages” who require evacuation to hospitals.
In a remarkable display of community spirit, villagers rallied together to aid in rescue efforts, employing only their bare hands to remove debris from homes constructed of mud and stone nestled within the steep valleys.
Obaidullah Stoman, 26, made his way to the village of Wadir in search of a friend, only to be struck by the extent of the devastation he encountered.
“I am currently looking in this area, but I have not spotted him.” “The conditions here were extremely challenging for me to witness,” he stated in an interview with AFP.
“Only rubble remains.”
Villagers wrapped the deceased, including children, in white shrouds, offering prayers over their bodies before burial.
The UN migration agency reported to AFP that several of the most severely affected villages are still unreachable because of obstructed roads.
The US Geological Survey reported that the earthquake’s epicentre was located approximately 27 kilometres (17 miles) from Jalalabad, occurring at a depth of just eight kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface.
Relatively shallow earthquakes have the potential to inflict significant damage, particularly given that most Afghans reside in low-rise, mud-brick structures that are susceptible to collapse.
Following decades of conflict, Afghanistan stands as one of the world’s poorest nations, grappling with an enduring humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the return of millions of Afghans, compelled to return by neighbouring countries Pakistan and Iran in recent years.
Following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, there has been a significant reduction in foreign aid to Afghanistan, further crippling the nation’s already limited capacity to address disasters.
Until early 2025, the United States held the position of the largest aid donor globally. However, this changed dramatically when President Donald Trump assumed office, leading to the cancellation of nearly all funding, leaving only a small fraction intact.
In June, the United Nations announced a significant reduction in its global humanitarian aid initiatives, citing the “deepest funding cuts ever” as the driving factor behind this decision.
On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement indicating that the organisation is collaborating with local authorities to “swiftly assess needs, provide emergency assistance and stand ready to mobilise additional support.” He also announced an initial allocation of $5 million.
A complete structural failure occurred, resulting in the total collapse of the house.
A significant number of residents in the villages affected by the earthquake are part of the over four million Afghans who have repatriated from Iran and Pakistan in recent years.
In a critical response to the emergency, helicopters transported the injured from the isolated village of Wadir in the Nurgal district to medical facilities in the closest urban centre, Jalalabad.
In a tragic incident, fourteen-year-old Akhlaq sustained injuries. He was subsequently evacuated to a hospital, while five members of his family lost their lives as the earthquake struck Nurgal.
“The entire structure of our home has fallen, leaving my brothers and father trapped beneath the rubble.” “I was the only one who survived and managed to escape,” he stated in an interview with AFP. “In a moment of clarity, I recognized my father’s voice, which ultimately guided me to his rescue.”
“Victims remain trapped beneath the rubble, yet no one is available to assist in their rescue.”
Afghanistan experiences a high frequency of earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies at the intersection of the Eurasia and India tectonic plates.
In October 2023, a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck western Herat province, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,500 lives and causing significant damage to more than 63,000 homes.
In June 2022, a powerful 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit the eastern province of Paktika, resulting in over 1,000 fatalities and displacing tens of thousands of residents.
