A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s northeastern Kunar province late on Sunday, killing at least 900 people and injuring more than 3,000. Many residents remain missing as rescue operations continue amid difficult conditions.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, the quake hit at 11:47 p.m. local time on August 31, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad at a depth of 8 kilometers. The initial tremor was followed by at least three aftershocks measuring between 4.5 and 5.2 on the Richter scale.
Despite being moderate in strength, the earthquake caused massive destruction. Entire villages in Kunar province were wiped off the map, according to reports from the Associated Press.
Spokesman Yusuf Hammad stated on Tuesday, September 2, that the death toll had reached 900, with more than 3,000 people injured. He warned that numbers could rise further as rescue operations progress. Landslides triggered by the quake blocked roads, though some routes have since been reopened to allow aid and recovery efforts.
Three days after the disaster, rescue operations remain slow, with many remote mountainous areas still cut off due to blocked roads and disrupted mobile networks. Aid agencies report significant challenges in reaching the most severely affected communities.
Ibrahim Ahmed, head of Islamic Relief, told Al Jazeera that it has been extremely difficult for search and rescue teams to access devastated villages. Relief workers are relying on local volunteers to deliver food and emergency supplies. Poor infrastructure and rugged terrain remain major obstacles, with some areas accessible only on foot even before the disaster.
Humanitarian officials fear that the death toll could rise sharply once rescue teams reach isolated areas that have so far remained untouched.
