Earthquake Devastates Eastern Afghanistan with Over 800 Fatalities

2025-09-01 global

Kabul, Monday, 1 September 2025.
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August 2025, tragically killing over 800 people and injuring thousands, raising urgent concerns over humanitarian aid and economic impact.

Devastation Strikes as Earthquake Rocks Afghanistan

On 31 August 2025, a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake ravaged the eastern regions of Afghanistan, causing widespread destruction and claiming the lives of over 800 individuals while injuring 2,800 more [5][6][7]. The earthquake struck at 23:47 local time, with its epicenter located approximately 27 kilometers east of Jalalabad in the Kunar province, near the border with Pakistan [5][7]. The tremors reduced entire villages to rubble, particularly in the mountainous provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar, already vulnerable due to impoverished conditions and structures made of mud and rock [5][7][6][8].

Humanitarian Crisis and Rescue Efforts

The natural disaster has intensified an already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, with limited resources stretched even further. Taliban authorities, alongside international bodies like the United Nations, are working to coordinate response efforts to supply aid and mobilize rescue operations [8][6]. Communication challenges have exacerbated the situation, hindering relief access to remote villages affected by potential landslides triggered by the quake [8]. In response, 200 Taliban soldiers were deployed to assist rescue operations, supported by two helicopters and 30 ambulances [8].

Economic and Infrastructure Impact

The earthquake’s economic repercussions are substantial, with local businesses devastated and infrastructure critically damaged. Kunar Province experienced significant casualties and severe property destruction, leaving its citizens in urgent need of humanitarian aid [8][7]. Compounding this, Afghanistan’s humanitarian aid budget saw a drastic reduction from $3.8 billion in 2022 to $767 million in 2025, raising concerns about the adequacy of relief funding [8].

International Response and Aid

Although initial reports suggest no foreign governments have yet extended aid, international agencies, led by the United Nations, are preparing to support relief efforts [8]. China has indicated its readiness to provide disaster relief assistance as per Afghanistan’s needs and within its capacity [9]. The U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pledged that the U.N. will spare no efforts to aid those impacted by the catastrophe [8][9].

Sources

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