Relief operations slowed by landslides and damaged roads
A magnitude-6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing over 800 people and injuring approximately 2,500, according to Taliban officials. Rescue efforts are hampered by landslides and broken roads, leaving many remote mountain villages isolated.
The quake’s epicenter was near the Pakistan border, with Kunar province experiencing the most severe destruction. Its shallow depth worsened the impact, and aftershocks continued into Monday, shaking areas as far as Kabul, more than 100 miles away.
Hospitals overwhelmed with casualties
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid warned that the death toll could rise, as many victims remain trapped under rubble. Hospitals in Asadabad and surrounding districts are struggling to manage the influx of injured residents.
Among the affected is Rasheed Khan, a trader from Kabul whose family lived in Watpur village. He lost his wife, three children, and two brothers. “I don’t know how many relatives are still buried under the debris,” he said.
Relief operations face serious challenges
Afghanistan’s defence ministry has deployed doctors and emergency supplies to Kunar, but many communities can only be reached by air due to landslides and blocked roads. Taliban officials have requested urgent support from humanitarian organizations, including medical aid, clean water, food, tents, and rescue equipment.
The country’s healthcare system, already weakened since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, is struggling to respond to the disaster. Jeremy Smith of the Red Cross said the combination of remoteness and ongoing aftershocks makes rescue work particularly dangerous.
Villages destroyed, many still missing
Mud and stone homes were flattened across Kunar. In Masood village, nearly every household suffered fatalities, with rescuers estimating up to 250 deaths. Neighboring provinces Laghman and Nuristan have also reported casualties, though full damage assessments remain ongoing.
Muhammad Aziz, a laborer from Nur Gul, said ten of his relatives, including five children, were killed. “Homes have collapsed everywhere, and people are digging with their hands to rescue those trapped,” he said.
International support begins to arrive
China has pledged disaster relief, and India has delivered food and tents. The United Nations is preparing emergency aid, while Pope Leo expressed condolences for families who lost loved ones.
The earthquake comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, with economic collapse, mass returns of refugees from Pakistan and Iran, and widespread hunger leaving millions dependent on aid. The UN estimates that more than half of the country’s 42 million population requires assistance.
Afghanistan lies along active fault lines in the Hindu Kush mountains, making it prone to earthquakes. Last year, tremors in western Afghanistan killed over 1,000 people, and a magnitude-6.3 quake in October 2023 claimed thousands of lives, marking one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent memory.
