KABUL, Sept 1 : One of the deadliest natural disasters in recent years, the Afghanistan earthquake today has killed more than 800 people and left at least 2,800 injured.
The midnight tremor struck at a depth of 10 km in the remote eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar, where rescuers are struggling to reach devastated mountain villages due to rough terrain, heavy rains, and impassable roads.
Rescue Operations Amid Harsh Terrain
Rescue workers, military teams, and residents are searching for survivors under the rubble of collapsed mudbrick homes.
Helicopters have been ferrying the injured to hospitals, while officials warn casualties may rise as more remote areas are reached.
Kate Carey from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) noted that recent rains have triggered landslide risks, further complicating rescue efforts.
Authorities are also rushing to dispose of animal carcasses to prevent water contamination.
Taliban Appeals for Aid
The Taliban administration, already struggling with a steep drop in international funding since 2021, has appealed to the world for urgent humanitarian assistance.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson, confirmed that 812 deaths were reported, with three villages in Kunar completely razed.
Health ministry spokesperson Abdul Maten Qanee said: “All our teams have been mobilized to accelerate assistance, from security to food and health, but we need international support.”
International Response on Afghanistan Earthquake
So far, only limited foreign aid has been announced. India has delivered family tents and food supplies, while China expressed readiness to provide disaster relief “according to Afghanistan’s needs.”
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said their mission in Afghanistan is preparing to deliver emergency assistance.
Earthquake Impact in the Region
This was Afghanistan’s third major deadly quake since the Taliban takeover.
Experts say quakes in Afghanistan are especially devastating because of weak building structures and the densely populated Hindu Kush region, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide.
The tremor has renewed concerns across South Asia, with residents in northern India also reporting mild tremors, leading to rising searches for earthquake in Delhi today and Delhi earthquake news.