KABUL, September 1: More than 800 people have been killed and nearly 2,800 injured after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province late Sunday, according to Taliban-run authorities cited by The Washington Post.
The 6.0-magnitude quake flattened entire villages in mountainous districts including Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara, leaving homes reduced to rubble. In neighboring Nangarhar province, at least nine more people lost their lives, with several others injured.
Rescue efforts have been severely hampered by landslides, damaged roads, and communication breakdowns. Helicopters and emergency workers have been deployed, but authorities warned that the full extent of casualties and destruction may rise further. Officials appealed for urgent international aid to support relief operations.
India’s Response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy, saying India stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the earthquake in Afghanistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands ready to provide all possible humanitarian aid and relief,” PM Modi posted on X.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also conveyed condolences, calling the disaster a matter of “deep concern.” He assured that India would extend assistance, expressing solidarity with the Afghan people “in this hour of need.”
Afghanistan’s Earthquake Vulnerability
This disaster underscores Afghanistan’s recurring vulnerability to earthquakes, especially in its remote and mountainous regions where fragile mud and stone houses dominate. It comes less than two years after another deadly quake claimed over a thousand lives, underlining the urgent need for better preparedness and resilient infrastructure.
Tremors were also felt across several regions of Pakistan, heightening fears and prompting precautionary evacuations in some areas.