Devastating Earthquake in Afghanistan Claims 800 Lives and Injures 2,800: A Heart-Wrenching Tragedy
Around 800 people have been confirmed dead and more than 2,800 injured following a devastating earthquake that hit eastern Afghanistan late Monday night. Registering a magnitude of 6.0, the quake struck at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles), causing widespread destruction and prompting an urgent call for international aid.
Rescue operations are currently underway, with Afghan authorities mobilizing helicopters to transport the injured from the rubble of collapsed homes in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for Afghanistan’s health ministry, emphasized the critical need for external support: “We need it because here lots of people lost their lives and houses.” According to Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban administration, the majority of fatalities occurred in Kunar, where at least 610 lives were lost; another 12 fatalities were reported in Nangarhar.
The catastrophe comes at a time when the Taliban administration is grappling with multiple humanitarian crises, exacerbated by reduced foreign aid following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. This earthquake marks the third significant seismic event the country has faced since the Taliban’s takeover. In a troubling trend, humanitarian assistance has plummeted to approximately $767 million this year, down from $3.8 billion in 2022, fueling concerns among human rights advocates and aid organizations.
Rescue teams face significant challenges in accessing remote mountainous regions, where communication networks are often disrupted. Videos from the scene depict military helicopters airlifting the wounded as local residents assist in transporting them to ambulances. Abdul Maten Qanee, another health ministry spokesperson, confirmed that all available resources are being deployed to expedite assistance, which includes coordination across security, healthcare, and food services.
Three villages in Kunar were entirely destroyed, and many others reported severe damage. As rescue efforts continue, the international community’s response remains muted, with no governments reaching out for direct support. A spokesperson for Afghanistan’s foreign office noted this lack of outreach, stating, “So far, no foreign governments have reached out to provide support for rescue or relief work.” However, China has expressed its readiness to provide disaster relief tailored to Afghanistan’s needs.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres announced that the U.N. mission in Afghanistan is preparing to assist those affected by the earthquake. Local residents and humanitarian officials note that communities are still grappling with the aftermath of previous earthquakes, such as the one that struck the western city of Herat nearly two years ago.
Afghanistan’s geographic location in the seismically active Hindu Kush mountain range makes it particularly vulnerable to such disasters. As authorities strive to respond to this latest tragedy, the call for global support for the Afghan people has never been more urgent. With an estimated half of the population in dire need of humanitarian assistance, experts warn that without immediate action, the already dire crisis may deepen further.
This earthquake serves as a grim reminder of the humanitarian needs facing Afghanistan, with the international community now facing pressure to act swiftly and compassionately to aid the recovery efforts in the years to come.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/01/hundreds-feared-dead-injured-as-earthquake-of-magnitude-6-hits-afghanistan.html
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Publish Date: 2025-09-01 18:16:00
