Additional Coverage:
Eastern Afghanistan Reels from Devastating Earthquake
Tragedy struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night as a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake ravaged villages, claiming at least 1,411 lives and injuring 3,124 more, according to government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. A second quake, measuring 5.2 magnitude, struck the already devastated region northeast of Jalalabad on Tuesday, further complicating rescue efforts.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with commandos being airlifted to remote areas inaccessible by plane to extract survivors from the rubble. The initial earthquake, centered east of Jalalabad, has inflicted widespread destruction, with an estimated 8,000 houses destroyed, according to a Taliban official in Nangarhar Province. Kunar Province has borne the brunt of the casualties, though fatalities have also been reported in Nangarhar.
The scale of the disaster has left emergency responders struggling to reach all affected villages, raising fears that the death toll may rise. The World Health Organization estimates 12,000 people have been directly impacted by Sunday’s quake, with several districts in Kunar particularly hard hit. Damage has also been reported in Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.
While many health facilities remain operational, the scenes at Nangarhar Regional Hospital are heartbreaking, with numerous injured children separated from their families receiving treatment. Dr. Sharafat Zaman Amar, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, shared images of the young victims, calling the situation “painful and unbearable.”
This devastating earthquake follows a series of deadly tremors in recent years, including quakes in June 2022 and October 2023, each claiming over 1,000 lives. The region’s geological location, at the intersection of the India and Eurasia plates, makes it prone to seismic activity.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has recorded numerous powerful earthquakes in the area since 1950, including several exceeding magnitude 7.
Sunday’s quake was followed by four significant aftershocks.
International concern is mounting, with UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan Richard Bennett expressing condolences and emphasizing the need for continued support.