Devastating Earthquake in Afghanistan: 800 Dead and Countless Injured

Mon Sep 15 2025 16:06:17 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake has struck eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 800 people and injuring over 2,500, according to Taliban officials. The quake caused widespread destruction, particularly in Kunar province.

A powerful earthquake late Sunday night in eastern Afghanistan has left over 800 dead and more than 2,500 injured. Rescuers are struggling to reach the remote areas affected, as aftershocks continue to hamper relief efforts. The disaster adds to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, already suffering from drought and displacement issues. International aid is being called for as the country grapples with this latest tragedy.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Rescuers in eastern Afghanistan are digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings in search of survivors after a powerful earthquake struck late Sunday, claiming the lives of at least 800 individuals and injuring more than 2,500, officials reported.

The 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit near the city of Jalalabad, with the tremor felt across Kunar province and its surrounding areas. As night fell on the disaster site, families clawed through debris, hoping to find their loved ones amidst the wreckage.

A spokesman for the Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed during a press conference that the casualties primarily occurred in Kunar province, where entire villages have been reported destroyed.

We need help here, one villager cried out, highlighting the desperation faced by many family members trapped under debris.

Videos and images of the disaster have shown harrowing scenes of rescue teams ferrying injured individuals away on stretchers while citizens worked tirelessly, using their hands to free those trapped beneath the ruins.

In the face of ongoing aftershocks, medical teams from Kunar and the capital Kabul are currently on their way to combat the mounting health crisis as hospitals fill with the wounded.

Much of the affected area is remote, making access difficult; however, efforts to airlift the injured out have been reported from Nangarhar airport.

One survivor described the chaos as he witnessed homes collapsing, with echoes of cries for help resonating from within the rubble.

The earthquake adds another layer of complexity to Afghanistan's already dire humanitarian situation, with many Afghans dealing with the aftermath of years of war, drought, and displacement due to economic challenges and the expulsion of refugees.

The international community is being asked to support relief efforts, with calls for humanitarian aid to alleviate the situation faced by millions already impacted by natural disasters and conflicts.

Local officials continue to update casualty figures as communications remain compromised. Reports suggest numbers could rise as many areas remain inaccessible.