A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, resulting in the death of at least 800 people and injuring over 2,500, according to the Taliban government’s Monday update.
The 6.0 magnitude tremor hit the Kunar province, close to Jalalabad in Nangahar, causing severe damage to buildings.
The quake, which occurred at 11:47 pm (GMT+5), was centred 27 kilometres (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad and was only 8 kilometres (5 miles) deep, the US Geological Survey said.
Rescue workers were seen carrying injured victims from collapsed structures into helicopters, while others searched through the debris using their bare hands. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government’s spokesman, confirmed the death toll had risen to 800 and stated that the majority of casualties occurred in Kunar province, reports AP/UNB.
Afghan homes in rural areas are often built with mud bricks and timber, which are prone to collapse during earthquakes.
In Nurgal district, one of the most affected regions in Kunar, a resident described the widespread devastation. “Children are under the rubble. The elderly are under the rubble. Young people are under the rubble,” he said, pleading for help. “We need help here. We need people to come here and join us. Let us pull out the people who are buried. There is no one who can come and remove dead bodies from under the rubble.”
The quake’s impact has been worsened by the region’s mountainous terrain and poor communication infrastructure.
One survivor, Sadiqullah from the Maza Dara area of Nurgal, recalled the terrifying moments when the earth shook violently. Waking to a deafening sound, he rushed to save his children and managed to rescue three of them. However, just as he was returning to help the rest of his family, the room collapsed on top of him.
“I was half-buried and unable to get out,” Sadiqullah shared, speaking from Nangarhar Hospital. “My wife and two sons are dead and my father is injured and in hospital with me. We were trapped for three to four hours until people from other areas arrived and pulled me out.”
The region is also struggling with disruptions to communication, which has delayed casualty reporting. According to Sharafat Zaman, a health ministry spokesperson, medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar, and Kabul have arrived to assist in the rescue efforts. “The numbers were expected to change,” he said, as further casualties are reported.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government’s chief spokesman, assured the public that “all available resources will be utilised to save lives.”
