A powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan, has caused significant devastation. Preliminary reports indicate that more than 800 people have died and over 2,500 have been injured. Rescue operations continue, however, the death toll is expected to increase. Locals are desperately searching the wreckage for missing family members.
The earthquake struck late Sunday, with tremors felt in multiple towns in Kunar province, close to Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. The U.S. Geological Survey located the epicenter 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad, at a depth of only 8 kilometers. Shallow earthquakes are often very destructive. Several aftershocks were recorded.
Video shows rescuers airlifting injured people from the ruins while residents frantically dig through the rubble with their bare hands.
Taliban government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid announced on Monday that the death toll has reached 800, with over 2,500 injuries, primarily in Kunar province.
Building construction in Afghanistan often utilizes lower-quality materials like concrete, bricks, and earth bricks, especially in rural areas. These structures are often vulnerable.
Nurgal district in Kunar province has been severely impacted, with a local describing the near-total destruction of the village. A survivor shared, “Children are trapped… the elderly are trapped… the youth are trapped.” He pleaded, “We need help… Let’s help get people out. There is no one to recover the bodies.”
Another survivor described the collapse of houses and the cries for help. The mountainous and remote location of eastern Afghanistan has complicated rescue efforts and communication. Another witness saw homes collapsing and people calling for assistance.
Sadiqullah, a resident of Maja Dara in Nargal, was woken by a massive explosion. He immediately went to his children, saving three. But as he went back to help his family, the building collapsed on him.
From Nangarhar Hospital, he said, “I was half buried and couldn’t get out. My wife and two sons are dead… My father is hurt… We were stuck for 3-4 hours.” He described feeling as if the mountain was shaking.
Sharafat Zaman, a Health Ministry spokesperson, stated that rescue operations are ongoing, with medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar, and Kabul deployed. He said the casualty numbers will likely change as more information comes in.
Zabiullah Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesperson, confirmed that all available resources are being used to save lives. Jalalabad, with its proximity to Pakistan and its border crossing, is a major commercial center. With a municipal population of about 300,000, its metropolitan area is much larger. The area also has agriculture, like citrus fruits and rice, and the Kabul River flows through the city.
Previously, on October 7, 2023, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in Afghanistan which resulted in thousands of fatalities. The Taliban estimated about 4,000 deaths, while the UN estimated around 1,500. This was the most deadly natural disaster in Afghanistan in recent times.