Rescue operations are continuing in eastern Afghanistan after a powerful earthquake late Sunday killed more than 1,800 people and injured thousands, with officials warning that the toll is likely to rise as survivors are pulled from rubble.
The quake struck near Jalalabad at 11:47 pm local time, registering magnitude 6.3 at a shallow depth of 8 km, according to the US Geological Survey. Most residents were asleep when the tremors hit, collapsing homes and trapping families inside.
Officials in Kunar province said at least 1,825 people have died in the Mazar Darah area alone, while over 5,000 others are reported dead or injured across affected regions. The provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman, and Panjshir also suffered casualties, with at least 12 deaths confirmed in Nangarhar. The Taliban government fears the death toll will climb further as data continues to emerge from remote districts.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the scale of destruction could overwhelm Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure unless urgent international aid arrives. Türkiye has dispatched 25 tons of relief supplies, including shelter, hygiene kits, and food boxes. Neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Iran, China, and India have pledged assistance, while Western nations are also preparing aid packages.
The earthquake is the third major one to hit Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation marked by food shortages and economic collapse. International agencies say urgent medical supplies, tents, and rescue equipment are needed immediately to prevent further loss of life.
Rescue teams are still pulling bodies from the rubble, while hospitals across the affected region are overwhelmed with the injured. Officials have appealed for global solidarity, warning that without swift help, the disaster could turn into an even greater humanitarian crisis.
