Kabul: Quake leaves hundreds dead and thousands injured
A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late on Sunday night, causing widespread devastation across mountainous provinces. The tremors, which were felt as far away as Kabul, Islamabad and even parts of India, left at least 622 people dead and more than 1,500 injured.
The quake struck at 11:47 p.m. local time with its epicentre near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, also impacting neighbouring Kunar. Its shallow depth of less than 10 km amplified the destruction, toppling mud-brick homes and flattening entire villages.
Widespread destruction in remote areas
Rescue teams reported severe damage in Kunar’s remote districts, where the terrain is mountainous and access is extremely difficult. Narrow roads, landslides and aftershocks have slowed relief operations, leaving many communities cut off. Entire families are feared trapped under debris, and the true scale of the tragedy is still emerging.
In Nangarhar, several residential buildings collapsed, while hospitals struggled to cope with the surge of patients. Emergency medical camps have been set up, but the shortage of equipment and supplies remains a serious challenge.
Tremors felt across the region
The earthquake was powerful enough to shake buildings in Kabul, forcing residents out of their homes in panic. In Islamabad, people rushed into the streets as windows rattled and ceiling fans swayed. The tremors were also reported in parts of northern India, though no major damage occurred outside Afghanistan.
Rescue and relief efforts
The Taliban government has launched emergency rescue operations, deploying helicopters to evacuate the wounded. Local volunteers, medical staff and security forces are working around the clock to pull survivors from the rubble. International humanitarian agencies, including the Afghan Red Crescent Society and the United Nations, have also mobilised assistance.
However, efforts remain hampered by the rugged geography and fragile infrastructure. Many of the hardest-hit villages are accessible only by dirt roads that have been blocked by landslides. Authorities have appealed for urgent international aid, citing a critical need for tents, food, medicine and rescue equipment.
Historical vulnerability
Afghanistan sits on a major seismic fault line and has suffered repeated disasters of this kind. In 2022, an earthquake in Khost killed more than 1,000 people, while in 2023, Herat province was devastated by another tremor that destroyed entire communities. The country’s reliance on poorly built mud-brick homes makes it especially vulnerable to even moderate quakes.
Experts warn that unless stronger housing and infrastructure are developed, Afghanistan will remain dangerously exposed to future seismic events.
Conclusion
The latest earthquake is one of the deadliest to strike Afghanistan in recent years, compounding the country’s humanitarian challenges. With hundreds already confirmed dead and thousands injured, the coming days will be crucial for rescue and relief operations. The international community is expected to step in with aid, but for now, Afghanistan faces a daunting struggle to recover from the destruction.