Earthquake in Afghanistan Leaves More Than 800 Dead

Earthquake in Afghanistan Leaves More Than 800 Dead
Rescues Complicated by Landslides
Aftershocks Worsen Crisis in Afghanistan

A devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday night, leaving a preliminary toll of at least 800 dead and more than 2,000 injured, according to local authorities.

The epicenter was recorded in Nangarhar Province, 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad, and the impact was strongly felt in the mountains of Kunar, near the border with Pakistan.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time, at a depth of just 8 kilometers, which intensified the surface damage.

Nearly half a million people felt the tremor with force, especially in rural areas with vulnerable construction.

Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan With Force

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Afghanistan. Authorities report at least 800 dead and 2,800 injured so far. The quake has also destroyed hundreds of homes. #Crisis #NaturalDisaster #Asia #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/gKN08NyF1L

— euronews español (@euronewses) September 1, 2025

Scenes of Emergency

Reuters images showed the injured being transported by helicopter to Jalalabad, where overwhelmed hospitals provided medical care.

Videos circulated of victims of the earthquake on stretchers and dozens of patients waiting for space in Afghanistan emergency rooms.

Rescue operations have been hindered by landslides, making it difficult to access isolated communities.

The Taliban state agency Bakhtar (BNA) reported that several districts remain cut off.

“The number of victims and injured is high, but given the difficult access to the area, our teams remain on site,” said Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, in a statement cited by Reuters.

Voices From Afghanistan After the Earthquake

The quake’s impact was not limited to the epicenter area. Ahmad Zameer, 41, a Kabul resident, told CNN: “The earthquake was strong and shook my neighborhood more than 160 kilometers from the epicenter. All the residents of the nearby apartment buildings ran into the street for fear of being trapped.”

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on X:

“Unfortunately, tonight’s earthquake has caused human losses and economic damage in some of our eastern provinces.”

He added, “At this moment, local authorities and residents are doing everything possible to rescue those affected. Support teams from the capital and nearby provinces are also on their way. All available resources will be used for rescue and aid efforts.”

Aftershocks and Regional Alert

🌍 A strong 6.0-magnitude quake hit eastern Afghanistan, leaving at least 812 dead and nearly 2,800 injured. Several villages were reduced to rubble. Local authorities are urgently requesting international support to face the catastrophe. pic.twitter.com/Yu4ZaGP5ZX

— Uno noticias Chile (@UnonoticiaChile) September 1, 2025

The USGS reported at least five aftershocks, the strongest measuring 5.2.

Its PAGER system issued an orange alert, anticipating significant economic damage and a high risk of casualties.

“There is likely to be a significant number of casualties and the disaster is potentially widespread,” the institution stated.

The earthquake in Afghanistan was also felt in cities in Pakistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, triggering alerts in the neighboring country.

Children and Vulnerable Families After the Afghanistan Earthquake

Earthquake leaves at least 800 dead and more than 2,000 injured in Afghanistan https://t.co/GXTLLVgdav pic.twitter.com/pes8NDaZU0

— CNN en Español (@CNNEE) September 1, 2025

Rescue operations have been hampered as roads were blocked by rocks, isolating several villages.

The international organization Save the Children reported that its local teams reached the hardest-hit areas in Kunar Province and called for urgent funding to support children and their families.

“The earthquake struck without warning in the middle of the night, when families were sleeping in homes not built to withstand tremors of this magnitude,” said Samira Sayed Rahman, the NGO’s advocacy director.

The group warned that children are the most vulnerable in this type of tragedy and requested immediate international support to provide food, clean water, shelter, and basic supplies to those affected by the Afghanistan earthquake.

Recent Context

🌍 A strong 6.0-magnitude quake hit eastern Afghanistan, leaving at least 812 dead and nearly 2,800 injured. Several villages were reduced to rubble. Local authorities are urgently requesting international support to face the catastrophe. pic.twitter.com/Yu4ZaGP5ZX

— Uno noticias Chile (@UnonoticiaChile) September 1, 2025

Afghanistan had already suffered a devastating blow in October 2023, when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in the western region caused more than 2,000 deaths.

This new event revives fears about the country’s fragility in the face of natural disasters and the limited response capacity of its infrastructure.

The tragedy in Afghanistan once again highlights the vulnerability of millions living in seismic zones, with limited emergency resources and amid ongoing humanitarian crises.

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As rescue efforts continue, the country faces critical hours to save lives and prevent the death toll from rising further.

What measures do you consider essential for a resource-limited country like Afghanistan to better cope with natural disasters such as the recent earthquake?

SOURCE: CNN Mundo