Afghanistan Quake Devastates Eastern Provinces; Taliban Appeals for International Aid + Video

According to Rokna rescue teams continued their desperate search for survivors on Monday after a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, devastating the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar and destroying entire villages along the Pakistan border.

Authorities reported that the earthquake, which occurred just six miles beneath the surface, claimed at least 812 lives — 610 in Kunar and 12 in Nangarhar — and injured over 2,800 people. Officials warned that casualties are likely to rise as rescue teams reach more remote and inaccessible areas. The shallow quake’s impact was exacerbated by mudbrick homes built into steep valleys, rough mountainous terrain, and adverse weather conditions, which hindered relief efforts.

Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Kabul, appealed urgently for international assistance. “We need help because many people have lost their lives and homes,” he said, emphasizing that the disaster struck a nation already suffering from a severe economic crisis and a sharp reduction in foreign aid following the Taliban takeover in 2021.

The earthquake razed three villages in Kunar, with substantial damage reported in others. Survivors described scenes of devastation: villagers weeping amid the rubble, clearing debris by hand, and carrying the injured on makeshift stretchers. One resident of Mazar Dara in Nurgal district said, “Children and elders are trapped under the rubble. We need urgent help. We need ambulances, doctors, and everything necessary to rescue the injured and recover the dead.”

Military and humanitarian teams have been deployed across the affected region, with 40 flights evacuating 420 wounded and deceased individuals. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that heavy rain in the past 48 hours has increased the risk of landslides and rockslides, further complicating rescue operations.

International responses have begun to arrive. India delivered 1,000 family tents to Kabul and dispatched 15 tonnes of food to Kunar, with additional supplies expected. China expressed readiness to provide disaster relief tailored to Afghanistan’s needs. The United Kingdom announced emergency funding to assist affected communities, ensuring aid bypasses the Taliban administration. The U.S. State Department extended condolences and is evaluating assistance options.

The Taliban-led government, already strained by the recent return of thousands of Afghan deportees from Iran and Pakistan, faces a monumental challenge in providing relief and resources to survivors. The earthquake compounds the nation’s humanitarian crisis, stretching the administration’s capacity to respond effectively to one of the most severe natural disasters in recent years.

As rescue operations continue, the international community’s support remains critical to alleviating the suffering of thousands affected by the catastrophe.