More than 800 killed after strong quake hits Afghanistan

International Desk : A powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan just before midnight on Sunday, killing more than 800 people and injuring nearly 3,000, according to humanitarian officials. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams reach remote mountain villages where entire communities have reportedly been flattened.

The epicentre was located about 27 km (17 miles) east of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. The quake was shallow—at a depth of roughly 8 km (5 miles)—which amplified the shaking and devastation across Kunar and neighbouring districts. Tremors were felt as far away as Kabul and parts of Pakistan.
Hospitals near the epicentre report being overwhelmed as casualties arrive from remote areas.
Worst-hit: Kunar’s rugged terrain

Officials say the heaviest casualties are in Kunar, a mountainous region of narrow, winding roads where clay-and-stone homes are tightly clustered and highly vulnerable to collapse. Recent flooding and landslides further blocked access routes, forcing responders to rely on helicopters at first light. More than a hundred sorties have reportedly delivered teams and supplies into cut-off valleys.

Local accounts describe entire villages levelled, with “five to ten injured in every household.” Volunteers spent the night moving the wounded to clinics and onward to hospitals in Nangarhar as aftershocks sowed fear and kept residents outdoors.

Hospitals overwhelmed

Jalalabad’s main hospital—already strained by a separate influx of patients—reported receiving hundreds of quake victims. Doctors said many required admission for trauma care while others were treated and discharged. Communication remains difficult due to limited connectivity in the worst-hit areas, hampering coordination.

Rescue priorities and challenges

With roads blocked and debris widespread, officials say the immediate priority is reaching the injured. Many of the dead are believed to be still beneath rubble, and reports suggest some trapped victims died awaiting help. Clear weather allowed air operations to expand through Monday, but ground access to deep mountain settlements remains limited.

Context: A country on multiple fault lines

Afghanistan sits astride several seismic faults and is no stranger to deadly earthquakes. Shallow quakes are especially destructive in the Himalayan foothills, where tectonic plates grind past each other and traditional building materials offer little resistance. In recent years, major quakes in Herat and Paktika provinces have killed thousands.

The disaster strikes as the country faces severe drought, aid shortfalls, and widespread food insecurity. Sanctions and funding cuts have constrained international operations, though exemptions exist for humanitarian relief. Authorities have issued an appeal for urgent assistance in search-and-rescue, medical support, shelter, and reconstruction materials.

What we know at a glance
Magnitude: 6.0  |  Depth: ~8 km
Time: 23:47 local time (19:47 GMT), Sunday
Epicentre: ~27 km east of Jalalabad, Nangarhar
Casualties: 800+ dead; ~3,000 injured (figures expected to rise)
Worst-hit: Kunar province; entire villages reported destroyed
Response: Airlifts ongoing; roads blocked by landslides and flood debris

For emergency response and humanitarian coordination, local authorities have urged rapid deployment of medical teams, heavy machinery for debris removal, tents, blankets, clean water, and food supplies.