A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, demolishing villages, collapsing homes and killing and injuring hundreds of people as rescuers and residents clawed through rubble for survivors.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured magnitude 6.0 and was centered about 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad, with a shallow depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles). Shallow temblors often cause more severe shaking at the surface. The quake occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time and was followed by several aftershocks.
Taliban government spokespersons said Monday that the death toll had risen to at least 800 with more than 2,500 people injured, and officials warned that figures could climb as teams reached isolated areas. Other early field reports and accounts from residents suggested widespread destruction and additional casualties in remote valleys that are difficult to access by vehicle.
Footage and witness accounts showed rescuers carrying the injured on stretchers and loading people into helicopters. In many villages, survivors dug through collapsed houses with their bare hands seeking family members. The region’s rural homes are commonly constructed of mud bricks and stone, often without reinforced supports, making them particularly vulnerable to collapse during strong shaking.
Ahmad Khan Safi, a farmer from the Dewagal Valley in Kunar Province, described his family home — a 10-room structure of mud and stone — crumbling in the night. He said he was trapped beneath rubble and spent the night unsure if his relatives were alive. He was taken to a hospital in Jalalabad the following morning after people arrived on foot from neighboring districts.
Roads and terrain complicated rescue operations. Dewagal Valley and similar communities are reached only after hours of travel from provincial centers, often requiring travelers to change vehicles and walk or ride mules for several hours. The late-night timing of the quake, combined with the region’s remoteness, delayed outside assistance and left many survivors reliant on neighbors and local volunteers for initial rescue efforts.
Officials and witnesses reported that entire houses and sections of villages were reduced to rubble. Hospitals in nearby cities received large numbers of injured people, straining medical facilities that already face shortages of supplies and equipment. Helicopters were used to evacuate the most seriously wounded, and local authorities appealed for more assistance to reach the hardest-hit communities.
Afghanistan’s building stock — with many low-rise concrete and brick structures in urban areas and mud-brick homes in rural districts — has long been vulnerable to strong earthquakes. The country sits in a seismically active region, and experts say that construction methods and limited enforcement of building codes can amplify damage and casualties when large quakes occur.
The full extent of the human and structural losses was still being assessed as rescue teams continued to search for survivors and clear access to isolated localities. Officials cautioned that casualty figures were preliminary and likely to change as teams reached more areas and compiled reports.
International aid agencies and neighboring countries often respond to major natural disasters in Afghanistan, but the flow and coordination of external assistance can be affected by access challenges and the country’s political landscape. Local authorities said they were mobilizing available resources while calling for additional support to address immediate needs for medical care, shelter and supplies.
As teams continue to work amid aftershocks and difficult access, officials urged people in affected areas to remain cautious and to assist one another while awaiting further aid. The disaster underscored the vulnerability of remote Afghan communities to natural hazards and the urgent need for rapid relief to prevent further loss of life and to begin recovery efforts.