Magnitude 6 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan leaves at least 800 dead
Source: The Guardian
A powerful earthquake that hit eastern Afghanistan has left more than 800 people dead and injured about 2,500, according to Taliban officials.
The magnitude 6 earthquake hit four provinces in eastern Afghanistan around midnight on Sunday, with the rugged, mountainous region of Kunar the worst affected, triggering landslides and flooding.
The earthquake was shallow, taking place close to the Earth’s surface, which is known to cause greater destruction. Several aftershocks were reported throughout the night and into Monday morning, which could even be felt in the capital, Kabul, more than 100 miles away.
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The death toll is expected to rise significantly as local hospitals report being inundated with casualties and hundreds still remain unaccounted for. Medics at the provincial hospital in Asadabad in Kunar described the situation as an overwhelming crisis, with new patients arriving every few minutes.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/01/afghanistan-earthquake-near-jalalabad-magnitude-6-quake-pakistan-border
Helicopters have been the only way to access these regions and carry out rescues.
I have spoken to eyewitnesses at the Jalalabad Central Hospital, and they told me that ambulances continue to bring in casualties. They say that hundreds of injured had been brought to the hospital, and there is a huge number of women and children among them. Many hundreds of bodies have also arrived.
I am also speaking to residents near the Kunar region. Communication has been a challenge because internet connectivity is very limited in these areas. Some tell me that entire villages have been flattened, they’re now just a rubble. People are trying hard to evacuate their loved ones, because although the Taliban and other NGO's have sent rescue teams, it’s still not enough.
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The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) as well as the Japanese embassy have already expressed their condolences to the nation and offered assistance.
There are no restrictions on allowing in international aid, and the Taliban government has called for aid agencies to prioritise resources for the assistance of quake-hit areas.
But the abrupt freeze on US Agency for International Development (USAID) earlier this year has significantly affected aid delivery.
Jalalabad's main hospital is already overwhelmed, being right at the centre of the crossing point for the tens of thousand Afghans being deported from bordering Pakistan.
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