Afghanistan is reeling from its deadliest earthquake in years, with officials confirming on Tuesday that the death toll has climbed to at least 1,411. More than 3,100 people have been injured, while over 5,400 houses have been destroyed in the country’s mountainous eastern region, according to Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Rescue teams fear the numbers will rise further, as many people remain trapped under the rubble.
The devastation followed a powerful 6.0-magnitude quake that struck around midnight on Sunday at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, hitting hardest in the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar. The disaster was compounded on Tuesday when a 5.2-magnitude aftershock shook the area northeast of Jalalabad, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Rescue operations are under way in four villages in Kunar, but officials warn that the most remote mountain communities are still cut off. “We cannot accurately predict how many bodies might still be trapped under the rubble,” said Ehsanullah Ehsan, the provincial head of disaster management. “Our effort is to complete these operations as soon as possible and begin distributing aid to the affected families.”
Survivors described scenes of despair as villagers dug through mud and stone debris with their bare hands. “I’m searching here, but I didn’t see him. It was very difficult for me to see the conditions here. There is only rubble left,” said Obaidullah Stoman, 26, who travelled to Wadir village in search of a friend. Victims, including children, were wrapped in white shrouds and buried in simple graves as communities mourned their losses.
Blocked mountain roads and bad weather have severely hindered aid delivery, according to the UN migration agency. Helicopters and ambulances attempted to reach the hardest-hit areas on Tuesday, ferrying supplies in and evacuating the wounded to hospitals in Kabul and Nangarhar province.
International aid agencies have warned of a growing humanitarian crisis. UNICEF said thousands of children are at risk, as families forced from their homes face cold nights in the open. The agency has begun distributing medicines, warm clothing, tents, tarpaulins, and hygiene kits. The World Health Organization added that more than 12,000 people have been directly affected, with Afghanistan’s fragile health system overwhelmed and heavily reliant on outside assistance.
Local authorities and aid groups are also racing to clear animal carcasses to prevent water contamination, while survivors plead for food, shelter, and medical support. “Damaged roads, ongoing aftershocks, and the remote locations of many villages severely impede the delivery of aid,” a UN official said.
Despite the challenges, Taliban soldiers have been deployed to assist with relief efforts and provide security. Humanitarian groups warn that with thousands homeless and winter approaching, the disaster could deepen unless international support arrives swiftly.
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