A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on September 1, leaving at least 250 people dead and hundreds more injured, with fears that the casualty count could climb higher. The disaster hit the provinces of Kunar and Laghman, challenging a nation already grappling with ongoing humanitarian crises.
Emergency response teams rushed to the affected areas using helicopters to transport those injured to medical facilities. Rescuers are actively searching the rubble for more survivors in the affected regions, which have a long history of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.
The Afghan state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported, “Nearly 250 people have been reported martyred and over 530 injured across the provinces of Kunar and Laghman.” Official reports identified the most severely affected districts in Kunar as Noor Gul, Chawkay, Watapur, Mano Gai, and Chapa Dara.
Local broadcaster Tolo News echoed these figures and added that communication is ongoing with residents in remote hamlets, suggesting that the toll could yet rise. Health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman also indicated the number of casualties might increase as rescue operations continue.
Significant structural damage was reported, with at least three villages in Kunar completely razed, according to the health ministry. Najibullah Hanif, the provincial information officer of Kunar, confirmed 250 fatalities and 500 injuries, but cautioned that these figures might change.
As rescuers persist in their efforts, authorities have confirmed that no foreign aid has yet been offered to assist with relief efforts, underlining Afghanistan’s vulnerability in the face of natural disasters. The country, particularly the provinces along the Hindu Kush mountain range where tectonic plates converge, is prone to frequent earthquakes.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal expressed deep sympathy for the victims and their families on social media, lamenting the tragic loss of lives and the many left injured. This latest earthquake closely follows a series of tremors that killed more than 1,000 people last year, starkly highlighting the ongoing risk to one of the world’s poorest nations.
