Live updates Paused: Powerful Earthquake Devastates Eastern Afghanistan
We are concluding our live coverage of the devastating earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night.
- A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan around midnight, killing 812 and injuring over 2,800, Taliban officials said.
- With officials warning that the toll could rise as rescue efforts continue in remote mountain villages.
- Global leaders, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations have pledged support, while Afghan authorities and aid groups work under difficult conditions to reach those trapped and displaced.
We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as new information becomes available.
Global Condolences and Aid Pledges After Deadly Afghanistan Quake
The U.S., U.K., Russia, Egypt, UAE, Bangladesh, Qatar, Syria, Saudi Arabia, UN, EU, Japan, Turkey, India, Pakistan and Iran expressed condolences. Britain and Russia pledged aid, Egypt’s Al-Azhar voiced solidarity, and other states issued sympathy messages.
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan around midnight, killing 812 and injuring over 3,000, Taliban officials said. Rescue and aid operations continue.
In October 2024, a 6.2 quake in Herat killed over 2,000 and destroyed 1,320 homes.
WATCH: Survivor Describes Family Tragedy in Kunar Earthquake
“I fell from the second floor during the earthquake,” said Samiullah, a resident of Chawkai district, speaking to The Afghan Times.
“My son, my sister-in-law, one of my nephews, and one of my nieces were killed. My brother and I were injured,”he added.
Samiullah is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Kunar province, as rescue and relief efforts continue across the quake-affected areas.
WATCH: Injured Kunar Resident Describes Family Loss in Last Night’s Quake
Mohammad Azam, a resident of Mazar Dara village in Norgul district, is currently hospitalized in Kunar Provincial Hospital after being injured in the recent earthquake.
Speaking to The Afghan Times, Azam described the devastating loss of his family: “I lost three daughters, one son, two sisters-in-law, and a brother-in-law.”
WATCH: Man Appeals for Help After Losing 17 Family Members
A video released by the Qamar Foundation shows a man from Nurgal district in Kunar province pleading for urgent assistance after losing 17 members of his family in last night’s earthquake.
The man, who does not mention his name, says his wife, five children, parents, an uncle, and other relatives were killed. He appeals for helicopter support to transfer their bodies to a safe place, lamenting the lack of assistance.
“My wife, five children, parents, uncle and 17 members of my family died, and still there is no support to transfer them to a safe place,” he says in the recording.
The man adds that as of 2 p.m. Afghanistan time, more than 12 hours after the earthquake struck, no rescue teams had reached the area.
The Qamar Foundation, which published the video, highlighted the desperate situation facing families in remote areas of Afghanistan, where limited infrastructure hampers rescue and recovery efforts.
WATCH: Over 40 Killed in one Village After last night Earthquake in Afghanistan
In Diwa Gul Dara, Chawki District of Kunar Province, more than 40 graves have been dug in the cemetery of Andarlachak village following the recent earthquake. So far, 22 people have been buried, and the number of victims is expected to rise.
Father Rescued After Hours Under Rubble, Loses Wife and Sons
A man in Maza Dara, Nurgal, survived being trapped under rubble for hours during last night’s earthquake, but his wife and two sons were killed.
“I was half-buried and couldn’t get out,” Sadiqullah told the media from Nangarhar Hospital. “My father is injured and in hospital with me. We were trapped for three to four hours until rescuers arrived.”
He described the moment of the quake as terrifying. “It felt like the whole mountain was shaking.”
UN Chief Stands with Afghanistan After Earthquake
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed solidarity with Afghanistan following last night’s devastating earthquakes, offering condolences to victims’ families and support for the injured. The UN team in Afghanistan is fully mobilized to assist those affected.
PM Modi Condoles Afghanistan Earthquake Victims
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed condolences to the victims of last night’s earthquake in Kunar and Nangarhar. Modi wrote on X that he wishes a speedy recovery for those injured in this tragedy. He emphasized that India is ready to provide any possible humanitarian assistance to those affected.
Women Injured in the Earthquake: Concerns They May Receive Treatment Later Than Men, Say Women’s Rights Activists
A local women’s rights activist, who spoke anonymously to The Afghan Times, visited Asadabad Central Hospital and confirmed that some injured women were seen there. However, the activist noted that currently, the number of men in the hospital is several times higher than that of women.
“Kunar is a very conservative region, so due to cultural norms, women may receive treatment later. There are also concerns that some women may not have wanted to go to the hospital themselves,” said the activist.
WATCH: Dead Bodies Carried Down by Locals from Anderlachak Village
In Kunar Province, local residents are carrying the dead bodies down from the mountain village of Anderlachak in Diwa Gul Dara, Chawki District, after a three-hour walk on foot. So far, no rescue teams have been seen in the area.
Approximately 800 Killed and 2,500 Injured So Far
Officials from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority in Kunar province report that as a result of last night’s earthquake in Kunar province, around 800 people have been killed and 2,500 others injured.
WATCH: Mass Graves Dug After Deadly Quake in Nurgal
In Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, the district of Nurgal has recorded some of the highest casualties from the recent earthquake. Local residents can be seen digging graves for the victims, as families begin the painful process of burying their dead. Authorities report that Nurgal was among the worst-hit areas, with widespread destruction to homes and villages.
A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, killing at least 800 people and injuring more than 2,800 in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, officials confirmed on Monday.
The magnitude 6.0 quake, which hit at 11:47 p.m. local time, had its epicenter in Kuz Kunar district of Kunar Province. The shallow depth of just 8–10 kilometers intensified the destruction, toppling homes and triggering landslides that buried entire villages.
Local authorities reported that 610 fatalities occurred in Kunar, while 12 deaths were recorded in Nangarhar. Remote mountainous villages such as Nurgal and Mazar-e-Dara were among the worst hit, with entire communities wiped out. Rescue officials said at least three villages were razed to the ground.
Aftershocks measuring up to 5.2 jolted the region overnight, spreading panic and complicating rescue operations. Tremors were felt as far as Kabul and across the border in Pakistan, including Islamabad.
The Taliban government has deployed helicopters, military units, and emergency medical teams to the affected areas. Authorities said 40 flights had transported around 420 injured and deceased to hospitals in nearby cities.
However, landslides blocking mountain roads have slowed access to remote areas, forcing rescuers to rely heavily on air transport. The United Nations and the Afghan Red Crescent have joined relief operations, delivering emergency food, medical aid, and temporary shelters.
Afghanistan lies along major seismic fault lines and has a tragic history of deadly earthquakes. The disaster in Kunar is the most devastating since the June 2022 Paktika earthquake, which killed more than 1,000 people.
Officials warned that the full scale of damage may not yet be known as communications remain cut off in some districts. Survivors face an urgent need for shelter, food, and medical supplies.
