Kabul, September 3, 2025
Eastern Afghanistan has been struck by a devastating series of earthquakes that have left widespread destruction and a rapidly rising human toll.
The first major quake, measuring magnitude 6.0, hit Kunar Province near Jalalabad late on August 31, flattening entire villages built of mud and stone. According to local authorities and humanitarian agencies, more than 1,400 people have been confirmed dead and over 3,000 injured, with casualties expected to rise as rescue teams reach remote mountainous areas. More than 5,400 homes have been destroyed, leaving thousands of families without shelter.
The disaster was compounded on September 2, when a powerful aftershock-measured between 5.2 and 5.5 magnitude-shook the same region, intensifying fears of further collapses among already weakened structures. While reports of new casualties are still emerging, residents describe scenes of panic as people rushed into open fields for safety.
Survivors are now grappling with acute shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies. Rescue operations remain severely hampered by blocked mountain roads, landslides, and damaged infrastructure.
The Taliban-led government has appealed for urgent international assistance, stressing that the scale of the disaster is beyond national capacity. International responses have begun to arrive: India has sent tents and food supplies, the United Arab Emirates has deployed rescue teams, and Britain has pledged over £1 million in humanitarian support. Aid is also being coordinated through the United Nations, the Red Cross, and other NGOs, though the country’s political isolation and aid funding cuts have slowed the overall response.
The earthquake is among the deadliest natural disasters to hit Afghanistan in recent years, striking a nation already reeling from economic hardship, conflict, and climate-driven vulnerabilities. With entire families buried under rubble and survivors left exposed to the elements, humanitarian agencies warn of an urgent need for coordinated global action.
