Massive Destruction and Ongoing Rescues
The death toll from Sunday’s 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has risen to at least 1,411 people, with another 3,124 injured, according to government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Entire villages in Kunar Province were reduced to rubble, and officials warn the toll could climb further as rescuers continue to reach remote areas.
“Rescue operations are still underway in all the affected areas today,” said Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy government spokesperson. Dozens of commandos have been airlifted into inaccessible regions to pull survivors from the debris. Officials estimate that 8,000 houses were destroyed in Kunar alone.
Second Quake Adds to Chaos
As recovery efforts unfolded, a second earthquake measuring 5.2 struck Tuesday about 20 miles northeast of Jalalabad, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The aftershocks added to the sense of crisis in already devastated communities.
The USGS noted that the Hindu Kush region is highly seismically active, with 71 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater recorded within 250 kilometers of Sunday’s epicenter since 1950.
Health System Under Strain
The World Health Organization estimated that 12,000 people have been directly affected by the quake, with hardest-hit areas including Chawkay, Nurgal, Chapa Dara, Dara-e-Pech and Watapur in Kunar Province. Some districts in Nangarhar and Laghman also suffered damage.
Despite widespread devastation, most health facilities remain functional, WHO said. At Nangarhar Regional Hospital, doctors are treating scores of children injured in the quake, many separated from their families. “These are painful and unbearable moments,” said Health Ministry spokesperson Dr. Sharafat Zaman Amar, who shared images of wounded children receiving care.
International Condolences
U.N. special rapporteur Richard Bennett expressed condolences to the victims and their families, calling the destruction “unimaginable.” The disaster adds to Afghanistan’s mounting humanitarian crises, including drought, hunger, and limited aid due to sanctions and political isolation.
For Afghanistan, earthquakes are a recurring tragedy. In 2022 and 2023, separate quakes claimed more than 1,000 lives each. The shallow depth of Sunday’s quake — just 8 kilometers — made it particularly deadly, with tremors felt as far away as Kabul and neighboring Pakistan.