Over 900 Dead in Afghanistan: Earthquake Levels Villages in Kunar

Death Toll Rises by the Hour

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, claiming at least 900 lives. More than 3,000 people have been injured, and rescue workers fear that many are still trapped beneath mud and rocks in the steep mountain valleys.

The quake hit shortly after midnight on Sunday, just six kilometers below the earth’s surface—a shallow depth that dramatically magnifies the devastation. Three villages have been flattened, and many others severely damaged.

“We Need Everything”

Images from Kunar show children and adults being carried away on makeshift stretchers as neighbors and relatives try to dig through the rubble with their bare hands.

“We need ambulances, we need doctors, we need everything,” a survivor told local media.

According to Sharafat Zaman from the Ministry of Health in Kabul, the situation is desperate: “We need international help, because many people have lost both their lives and homes.”

A Country in Crisis – and a Regime Put to the Test

The disaster strikes an Afghanistan already in the midst of economic collapse and international isolation. Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, foreign aid has virtually disappeared, and strict restrictions—such as bans on women’s education and employment—have further strained relations with the outside world.

The earthquake could become a test of the Taliban’s legacy as rulers: Can the regime handle a national disaster and accept foreign assistance without losing its grip on power?

World Responds – But With Caution

Several countries have already pledged support. India has sent tents and food supplies, China has promised emergency aid, and the UK has released crisis funds through humanitarian partners. The US has expressed condolences but has yet to announce concrete assistance.

The UN warns that the death toll may rise further as rescue teams reach isolated mountain areas. At the same time, heavy rain and the risk of landslides are making it nearly impossible to reach those areas along narrow mountain roads.

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