More Than 600 Killed as Earthquake Strikes Eastern Afghanistan

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near Jalalabad on August 31, killing more than 600 people and injuring over 1,300, according to local authorities. Rescue efforts are ongoing across four provinces, but steep terrain, landslides, and damaged infrastructure continue to slow the response. Officials warn the death toll may rise in the coming days.

The quake originated just five miles below the surface, making it particularly destructive. Tremors were felt in Kabul, where residents fled homes overnight, while rural communities near the epicenter saw widespread building collapses. In some areas, neighbors pulled survivors from debris with their bare hands before professional teams arrived.

The United Nations reported significant damage to the Nangahar, Nuristan, Laghman, and Kunar provinces. Aid officials say rough terrain and limited road access have delayed emergency assistance. Afghanistan’s vulnerability is heightened by its location along multiple fault lines and the country’s reduced disaster response capacity since the Taliban takeover in 2021.

This latest disaster follows a series of earthquakes that devastated western Afghanistan’s Herat Province less than a year ago. Three quakes in October 2024 killed nearly 1,500 people, injured nearly 2,000, and destroyed more than 10,000 homes. Entire communities in Herat still lack reliable access to clean water, electricity, and healthcare. Many survivors continue to live in temporary shelters or damaged houses, unwilling to reenter rebuilt homes due to fear of future quakes.

Humanitarian agencies warn of lasting mental health effects, particularly among children. Counseling programs funded by the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) reached hundreds of families, but demand far outpaces available services.

Meanwhile, on August 10, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Bigadiç, Turkey, with aftershocks felt for days. The event underscored regional seismic risks and the strain on emergency systems.

Experts stress that both the Herat and Jalalabad disasters highlight a growing gap between immediate relief and long-term recovery. While humanitarian groups have delivered food, trauma care, and tents, funding shortfalls remain critical. Only 40 percent of Afghanistan’s 2025 humanitarian response plan is funded, leaving millions vulnerable ahead of a forecasted harsh La Niña winter.

More than 23 million Afghans currently require humanitarian assistance. Without sustained international support, both immediate rescue operations and long-term rebuilding efforts will remain dangerously under-resourced.