A devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Afghanistan’s eastern provinces late Sunday night has claimed at least 900 lives, with 3,000 others injured, according to Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority. Rescue teams are tirelessly scouring the rugged, mountainous terrain of Kunar province, where the majority of casualties occurred, as they search for survivors trapped under the rubble of collapsed mud-brick and wooden homes. “The injured are being evacuated, so these figures may change significantly,” Hammad told The Associated Press, warning that the death toll could rise further as rescue operations continue.

The quake, which hit at a shallow depth of six miles, flattened entire villages, particularly in Kunar province, where steep river valleys and high mountains complicate access. Landslides triggered by the tremor blocked roads, forcing aid workers to trek on foot to reach isolated areas. Helicopters have been deployed to airlift the injured to hospitals, but the rough terrain and damaged infrastructure continue to hamper efforts. Videos circulating online show villagers weeping amid the ruins, clearing debris by hand, and carrying the injured on makeshift stretchers, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.

The Taliban government, grappling with Afghanistan’s third major earthquake since seizing power in 2021, has issued an urgent appeal for international aid. The UK responded with a pledge of £1 million (USD 1.3 million) in emergency funding, channeled through humanitarian agencies to avoid direct support to the unrecognized Taliban regime. China, India, and the European Union have also offered disaster relief, with India delivering 1,000 family tents and 15 tonnes of food to Kunar. However, the crisis exacerbates Afghanistan’s existing challenges, including severe aid cuts, a struggling economy, and the recent forced return of millions of Afghans from Iran and Pakistan.

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Mark Calder, advocacy director at World Vision Afghanistan, warned that over 250,000 people could face heightened risks without immediate resources. “This will mean more people living without proper shelter, access to nutritious food, clean water, and by extension malnutrition and disease in a context where the healthcare system simply can’t stretch,” Calder said. As rescue efforts persist, the international community faces mounting pressure to support Afghanistan in navigating this catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

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