Avinash Bassan
System Observer
Kabul, Sep 2:
A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, leaving a trail of devastation across several provinces. Officials confirmed at least 812 people killed and nearly 3,000 others injured, with authorities warning that the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Worst-hit Kunar Province
According to Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan interim government, the quake inflicted the heaviest damage in Kunar province, particularly the districts of Nurgal, Suki, Watapur, and Chapa Dara. Entire villages were reported flattened, with residents trapped under collapsed homes built from mud and stone.
Impact Beyond Kunar
Neighboring regions also suffered significant losses:
Nangarhar province: 12 deaths and 255 injuries.
Laghman province: 58 injuries.
Nuristan province: 4 injuries.
Authorities fear the numbers may increase as emergency teams reach remote communities.
Rescue and Relief Challenges
The earthquake struck at 11:47 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of 8 km, its epicenter located 27 km northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. The timing of the quake, when most families were asleep indoors, has contributed to the high casualties.
Relief efforts have been slowed by rugged terrain, damaged roads, and poor communication lines. Local hospitals are overwhelmed, forcing many of the injured to be treated in open-air facilities or transported long distances for care.
Humanitarian Concerns
Officials from the interim government have deployed emergency teams, but aid agencies warn that the scale of destruction is immense. Thousands of families have been displaced, many now lacking food, shelter, and medical supplies.
The Afghan authorities have appealed for urgent humanitarian support, urging neighboring countries and international organizations to provide assistance.
Background
Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes due to its position near the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Remote regions with fragile housing structures are especially vulnerable, and relief operations are often hampered by the country’s mountainous geography and limited infrastructure.
