Over 800 Dead as Magnitude-6 Earthquake Strikes Eastern Afghanistan

A magnitude-6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan just before midnight on Sunday, causing over 800 deaths and injuring nearly 3,000 people, according to the UN. The hardest-hit area is Kunar province, a mountainous region where entire villages have been destroyed. Officials warn that the death toll may rise as many remain trapped under rubble.

The epicentre was located 27 km east of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, affecting remote areas with clay, stone, and mud homes. Narrow mountain roads, recent flooding, and landslides delayed rescue operations, with helicopters unable to land at night. Since morning, over 100 flights have carried aid and rescue teams to the region.

A Taliban official in Kunar said, “Entire villages are flattened, roads to deep mountainous areas are still closed. Our priority is reaching the injured. Most of the dead are under rubble.” Survivors reported people trapped for hours, with some dying before rescuers could reach them. Jalalabad’s main hospital has been overwhelmed, admitting hundreds of victims since the quake.

Afghanistan, located on multiple fault lines, is prone to earthquakes. This quake, only 8 km below the surface, shook areas as far as 140 km away, including Kabul and neighboring Pakistan. The disaster adds to the country’s ongoing crises, with humanitarian aid and international support limited under the Taliban government. Authorities have appealed for urgent help as the country faces hunger, drought, and infrastructure challenges.