A strong magnitude 6,0 earthquake shook eastern Afghanistan on Sunday night and left a provisional balance of at least 800 deaths and more than 2.500 injured, according to authorities. The quake struck a mountainous, scattered region where access is difficult and communication is limited.
The seismic movement was clearly felt in Kunar and Nangarhar, and the tremors reached Kabul and even cities in Pakistan. The figures remain provisional and could vary as emergency teams manage to enter isolated villages.
Death toll and most affected areas
The de facto authorities report that Hundreds of deaths in Kunar and a high number of injuries spread across several eastern provinces. Widespread landslides have been reported in multiple communities and the total destruction of numerous homes.
Referral hospitals, especially in Asadabad and Jalalabad, are overwhelmed by the constant arrival of wounded, sometimes every few minutes, and makeshift spaces have been set up to care for patients due to the shortage of beds.
The impact includes ground slides that have blocked key roads and isolated dozens of villages. This situation complicates damage assessment and delays the arrival of heavy machinery and essential supplies.
Health and government spokespersons have requested urgent international aid to reinforce search operations, medical care, and the supply of water and medicine. They have also organized blood donations in the main hospital centers.
Epicenter, magnitude and aftershocks
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the main quake had its epicenter about 27 kilometers east of Jalalabad, in Nangarhar province, at a depth of about 8 kilometers, a factor that amplifies the destructive potential.
The tremor was recorded at 23: 47 local time (19:17 GMT) and was followed by at least two aftershocks of magnitude 5,2The USGS PAGER system issued a Orange alert in the event of significant human and economic losses in areas with vulnerable buildings.
The affected area belongs to the mountain range of Hindu Kush, a seismically active environment at the boundary between major tectonic plates. The shallow depth The magnitude of the damage is largely explained by the earthquake and the fragility of local structures.
Rescue and humanitarian response
National teams, with support from UNAMA, the Afghan Red Crescent and UNICEF, have deployed emergency personnel and supplies. Priorities include medical care, child protection, access to safe water and sanitation, and psychosocial support.
From the airport Nangarhar Evacuations have been activated in helicopter to transport the seriously injured, while local brigades and volunteers collaborate in the search for survivors among the rubble.
The orography and recent rains have aggravated the emergency: blocked roads, swollen rivers and unstable stretches slow the arrival of machinery and fuel, and hinder communication with remote populations.
Humanitarian agencies insist on the need to immediately strengthen health, water and sanitation to prevent outbreaks and post-earthquake complications, in addition to expanding the logistics of temporary shelters for families who have lost their homes.
Local officials point to the added pressure posed by the aid cuts and the lack of infrastructure, which is why they have reiterated their request for resources and safe access for emergency teams.
Structural vulnerability and seismic history
In many villages they predominate mud and straw houses, with adobe walls and light roofs, extremely sensitive to earthquakes. This type of construction, common in rural areas, suffers sudden collapses when the ground vibrates strongly.
Afghanistan is located on the contact between the Indian and Eurasian plates, so earthquakes are relatively frequent. In recent years, highly destructive events have been recorded, with thousands affected and serious material losses.
Civil protection has asked the population to maintain caution against possible aftershocks, avoid damaged buildings, and follow the instructions of rescue teams, especially in areas with unstable slopes.
Geological factors are compounded by decades of conflict and deficient infrastructure, which hampers response and recovery. The combination of topography, poverty, and isolation increases risk and mortality in these types of disasters.
With a balance sheet that already exceeds 800 fatalities With thousands injured, the epicenter located on the outskirts of Jalalabad and a panorama of blocked roads and devastated villages, operations are now focused on saving lives, restoring basic services and bringing aid to the most inaccessible enclaves while official figures are updated.