More than 1,400 people have been confirmed dead following a powerful Afghanistan earthquake that struck eastern regions late Sunday, according to government officials. The 6.0-magnitude quake caused widespread destruction, flattening homes and cutting off entire villages.
Authorities said at least 1,411 people died and 3,124 were injured. The earthquake hit just before midnight near Jalalabad and was followed by multiple strong aftershocks. The hardest-hit areas include several districts in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, where many victims remain trapped under debris.
Rescue operations and aftershocks
Rescue teams continue working across affected zones. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on social media that dozens of commandos were deployed to remote locations where helicopters could not land. Deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat confirmed efforts are ongoing to move the injured to safer areas.
On Tuesday, another tremor measuring 5.2 struck about 20 miles northeast of Jalalabad. The U.S. Geological Survey reported this aftershock as part of continuing seismic activity in the region.
Officials in Nangarhar said the initial earthquake destroyed around 8,000 homes. Access to some remote villages remains limited, raising fears of additional casualties. According to the Interior Ministry, most fatalities occurred in Kunar Province, while others were confirmed in neighboring areas.
Seismic history and affected regions
Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes due to the collision of the India and Eurasia tectonic plates beneath the Hindu Kush mountains. The U.S. Geological Survey noted that since 1950, at least 71 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher have struck within 250 kilometers of Sunday’s epicenter.
The quake struck at 11:47 p.m. local time and triggered four aftershocks between 4.6 and 5.2 in magnitude, according to seismic data. The World Health Organization estimates that around 12,000 people have been directly affected by the disaster.
In Kunar, the districts of Chawkay, Nurgal, Chapa Dara, Dara-e-Pech, and Watapur were among the worst hit. Additional damage was reported in parts of Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.
Healthcare response and global reaction
Most health facilities in the region are still operational, according to WHO, which has deployed teams on-site, including at Nangarhar Regional Hospital. Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr. Sharafat Zaman Amar described the aftermath as painful, particularly for children injured and separated from their families.
Richard Bennett, the U.N. special rapporteur on Afghanistan, expressed sympathy for the victims and said the true scale of the Afghanistan earthquake tragedy is still unfolding.
