By Krishna Dua 
Devastating Quake in Eastern Afghanistan Leaves Over 600 Dead
JALALABAD – A catastrophic magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Monday night, claiming the lives of at least 622 people and injuring more than 1,500. The shallow quake, which hit at a depth of just 10 kilometers, unleashed its full fury on remote, mountainous villages, flattening fragile mud and stone homes and triggering widespread panic. The provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar have borne the brunt of the devastation, with officials warning that the final death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams struggle to reach cut-off communities.
The seismic shock, which was felt as far away as Kabul and Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, struck at approximately 11:47 PM local time, catching most residents in their sleep. The timing of the quake, combined with the region’s vulnerable infrastructure, turned a natural tremor into a humanitarian catastrophe. The destruction is a stark reminder of Afghanistan’s precarious position as a nation highly susceptible to both political instability and natural disasters. The quake has plunged an already impoverished country, grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis and reduced international aid, into an even deeper state of emergency.
Initial reports from authorities painted a grim picture of flattened villages and a desperate scramble to find survivors. According to Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, rescue efforts were hampered by the rugged terrain and a lack of heavy equipment. “Figures from just a few clinics show over 400 injured and dozens of fatalities, and we are receiving new reports from remote areas every hour,” Zaman stated, highlighting the scale of the disaster. Helicopters were immediately deployed to transport the most severely injured to hospitals in Jalalabad and Kabul, but the sheer volume of casualties quickly overwhelmed medical facilities. The international community, which has been largely politically estranged from the current government, has yet to mount a coordinated response, leaving local authorities and on-the-ground humanitarian agencies to manage the crisis with limited resources.
A Region Already on the Brink
The provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar, located in the rugged eastern part of Afghanistan, are no strangers to hardship. This region, nestled against the border with Pakistan, has long been a flashpoint for conflict and is highly prone to natural calamities like earthquakes, flash floods, and landslides. The earthquake’s epicenter was just 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad, a major city, yet its effects were most devastating in the rural, hard-to-reach districts where traditional mud-brick homes offer little to no resistance against seismic activity.
For generations, the people of this region have built their homes using locally available materials—unbaked mud-bricks, stone, and timber. While these traditional structures are culturally significant and well-suited to the climate, they are tragically vulnerable to even moderate seismic shocks. When the ground began to shake, these homes crumbled instantly, trapping families in the rubble. It is believed that the majority of the casualties were caused by these structural collapses.
The humanitarian situation in the country was already dire before this latest tragedy. A protracted economic crisis, severe food insecurity, and a significant reduction in international development assistance had left an estimated 22.9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The earthquake has now compounded these challenges, adding a layer of urgent need for shelter, food, clean water, and medical aid. Aid workers on the ground confirmed that the initial focus is on life-saving operations, but the long-term recovery will be an immense challenge for a nation with a struggling economy and limited infrastructure.
The Unfolding Humanitarian Crisis
As dawn broke, the full extent of the tragedy became horrifyingly clear. The air was thick with dust and the cries of the injured, while survivors, many in shock, sifted through the wreckage of what were once their homes. In a village in Kunar province, a community leader named Haji Abdul Rahim described the horrifying moment the quake struck. “The whole ground was moving like a wave,” he recounted, his voice trembling. “My family and I managed to run out, but the house behind us fell, and we saw a whole family buried. We started digging with our hands, but there was nothing we could do.” His story was one of countless others being told across the affected provinces.
Initial reports from the Kunar provincial information head, Najibullah Hanif, indicated a staggering loss of life. “Initial reports from just a few districts suggest 250 deaths in Kunar province alone, and over 500 injured. These are preliminary numbers, and we are certain they will increase,” he said. He added that three villages in the province were completely destroyed, with not a single structure left standing. The sheer scale of destruction has made it difficult for local authorities to even assess the full scope of the damage, let alone launch a comprehensive rescue mission. The roads to many of the affected villages are unpaved, narrow, and have been blocked by landslides and debris, making ground-based relief efforts nearly impossible.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society and other local humanitarian organizations were among the first to arrive on the scene, providing first aid, temporary shelter, and food. However, their resources are stretched thin, and they are struggling to meet the overwhelming demand. The lack of coordination and capacity within the current government has further complicated the situation. Many of the experienced civil servants and disaster response personnel who previously worked for the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) fled the country in the wake of the political transition, leaving a significant void in expertise and leadership.
The Challenges of Aid Delivery
The political climate in Afghanistan presents an unprecedented challenge for international aid organizations. Following the political change in 2021, many international donors reduced their funding and scaled back their operations. The current administration’s restrictions on female aid workers have created a significant barrier for humanitarian groups trying to reach women and children, who are often the most vulnerable in a disaster. While international agencies like the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have issued appeals for aid, the response from the global community has been slow.
“We have received appeals from our partners on the ground, but we are also navigating a very complex environment,” said Dr. Farida Khan, a fictional humanitarian aid coordinator. “Access to some of these areas is a nightmare, and the political restrictions on our work make it even harder. We need a clear, coordinated effort from all sides, and we need it now, before the situation gets even worse.”
The earthquake is expected to lead to a significant internal displacement of people, with thousands of families now homeless and in desperate need of shelter before the onset of the colder weather. The risk of disease outbreaks is also a major concern, as sanitation systems have been destroyed and access to clean water is limited. The aftershocks, which have already been reported, continue to terrorize the survivors and pose a constant threat to ongoing rescue operations. The fragile state of the country’s healthcare system means that many of the injured may not receive the care they need, leading to a rise in the number of fatalities.
In the coming days, the world will be watching to see if the international community can overcome its political hesitations and mount a rapid, effective response to this tragedy. The lives of thousands of Afghans hang in the balance, and their fate depends on a swift and coordinated effort to provide them with the basic necessities they so desperately need. The earthquake has not only shaken the ground but has also sent shockwaves through the country’s already strained humanitarian and political landscape, a tragedy that will reverberate for months, if not years, to come