A strong magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, shaking remote districts in Kunar and parts of neighboring Nangarhar. The shallow tremor hit near Jalalabad, toppling homes and triggering landslides across steep valleys.
Authorities say at least 800 people have lost their lives, and roughly 2,800 have been injured. The numbers remain fluid as responders reach previously cut-off villages. Hospitals in Jalalabad and smaller district clinics report being overwhelmed, with many patients suffering crush injuries and fractures.
Reasoning behind the high toll: many homes in the worst-hit areas are traditional mud-brick structures that crumble under lateral shaking. Because the quake struck around midnight, most residents were indoors and asleep, increasing the likelihood of entrapment. The shallow depth amplified ground motion, while rain-loosened slopes contributed to landslides that buried footpaths and roads, slowing evacuations.
Rescue teams—local volunteers, health workers, and security forces—are moving through debris by hand where machinery can’t reach. Helicopters have ferried the badly injured to provincial hospitals, but blocked roads and damaged bridges continue to delay aid convoys. Emergency needs include trauma care, clean water, temporary shelter, and food supplies for families whose homes were flattened.
Authorities have appealed for international assistance, warning that dwindling humanitarian funding and limited equipment could hinder lifesaving operations in the coming days.
Kunar appears to be the epicenter of destruction, with scattered damage reports from adjacent districts in Nangarhar. Aftershocks have rattled the region, prompting many families to spend the night outdoors.
The death toll and injury count are likely to rise as communications are restored and searches expand into isolated hamlets. For now, the essential figures are clear: at least 800 lives lost and about 2,800 people injured in a disaster that struck vulnerable communities at the worst possible hour.
Key figures: Dead — 800+; Injured — about 2,800.
