On Monday, a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, sending shockwaves through remote mountainous provinces and triggering multiple aftershocks. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that more than 1.2 million people likely felt strong to very strong shaking.
In the immediate aftermath, reports of devastation began to emerge from Kunar province, near the quake’s epicenter. Taliban officials confirmed that around 800 people had been killed and more than 2,500 injured there alone. Neighboring Nangarhar province reported an additional 12 deaths and 255 injuries.
As rescue teams reached affected villages, the scale of destruction became clearer. Entire communities were flattened, with homes reduced to rubble and infrastructure badly damaged. According to the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA, more than 800 people have been confirmed dead across the region, at least 2,000 are injured, and an estimated 12,000 people have been directly impacted.
Efforts to save lives, however, have been severely hindered. Landslides triggered by the tremors have blocked major roads, leaving helicopters as the only option to reach the most affected areas. “The scale of devastation is unimaginable,” said a Taliban official in Kunar, who is coordinating airlifts. “Right now, our priority is not finding the dead beneath the rubble, but reaching those who are injured and still waiting for help.”
With many victims still trapped under collapsed buildings and thousands requiring urgent medical care, authorities fear the death toll will rise further. This earthquake is already considered the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory.
As the country mourns its losses and prays for the recovery of the injured, communities across Afghanistan are calling for strength and resilience in the face of yet another tragedy. May the departed rest in peace, and may the survivors find healing and solace.
Source: BBC, Reuters
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