KABUL; More than 600 people were killed and over 1,500 injured after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, making it one of the deadliest disasters to hit the country in recent years. The 6.0-magnitude quake devastated large parts of Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, toppling mud and stone houses, flattening villages, and overwhelming already fragile healthcare facilities. Tremors were also strongly felt in several regions of Pakistan, including Islamabad, Peshawar, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting panic among residents.
According to the Taliban-run Interior Ministry, at least 622 people have been confirmed dead, while many more remain trapped under debris. Rescue helicopters and military teams rushed to the worst-affected districts, including Noor Gul, Chawkay, Watapur, Mano Gai, and Chapa Dara, to evacuate survivors and recover bodies. The Ministry of Defence reported that 40 flights had already transported more than 420 injured and deceased individuals.
Images broadcast by Reuters showed helicopters ferrying the wounded to hospitals as local residents joined soldiers and medics in carrying victims to ambulances. Entire communities in Kunar’s rural areas were razed to the ground, with three villages completely destroyed and extensive damage reported in others. Rescue operations were particularly challenging in remote mountainous areas, long prone to earthquakes and flash floods.
Government officials said all available resources had been mobilized. “Our teams are working on everything from security to health and food supplies to ensure comprehensive assistance,” Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Maten Qanee told Reuters. Health authorities in Kabul confirmed that efforts were underway to reach hamlets cut off by damaged infrastructure.
Afghanistan’s official news agency Bakhtar reported that a newly formed relief committee, led by Rural Rehabilitation and Development Minister Mullah Mohammad Yunus Akhundzada, had been tasked with coordinating aid efforts. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced an initial allocation of 100 million Afghanis to assist victims, with the possibility of increasing funds based on needs assessments.
Despite the scale of devastation, Afghan officials noted that no foreign governments had yet offered direct rescue assistance. However, expressions of solidarity poured in from across the globe. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan conveyed his condolences on X, saying, “Deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan… we stand in solidarity with our Afghan brothers and sisters in this hour of grief.” He also confirmed that the quake had been felt across parts of Pakistan and offered his country’s support in relief efforts.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also extended his sympathies, writing, “We stand with the Afghan people in this difficult situation,” while UN agencies began mobilizing humanitarian operations. The European Union issued a statement promising continued assistance through its humanitarian partners on the ground. Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal described the tragedy as “immense sorrow felt by us all,” offering prayers for the victims and injured.
Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, is highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its mountainous terrain and fragile infrastructure. Last year, more than 1,000 people were killed in a series of earthquakes in the western region, underscoring the country’s limited capacity to cope with such emergencies. The latest quake not only adds to Afghanistan’s mounting humanitarian crisis but also highlights the urgent need for international aid and coordinated disaster relief.
