Powerful Earthquake Hits Eastern Afghanistan, Hundreds Dead

A fresh earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, shaking a region already struggling to recover from a deadly quake over the weekend. This new tremor occurred near the epicentre of Sunday’s 6.0-magnitude earthquake, which devastated remote villages in the mountainous provinces bordering Pakistan.

Ehsanullah Ehsan, the disaster management spokesperson for Kunar province, told AFP that this aftershock “was felt in the same areas affected by the first earthquake,” but fortunately, no new casualties have been reported so far. The earthquake was recorded by the US Geological Survey late on Tuesday.

Rising Death Toll from Previous Quake

Sunday’s earthquake remains one of the deadliest in Afghanistan in decades. According to the chief Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, 1,411 people have died and 3,124 have been injured in Kunar province alone. In the neighbouring Nangarhar province, another dozen people died and hundreds more were injured.

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Afghanistan, already one of the poorest countries in the world, faces enormous challenges in responding to such disasters. The country’s capacity for relief has been severely weakened since the Taliban took power in 2021, as foreign aid has declined significantly.

Humanitarian Concerns

The United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, Indrika Ratwatte, warned that the destruction could affect “hundreds of thousands” of people in the region. Rescue teams worked through the night and throughout the day, searching for survivors amidst the rubble of homes that were flattened in Kunar. Government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat reported that over 5,400 houses were destroyed.

Many of the worst-hit areas remain inaccessible by road, slowing rescue operations. Emergency facilities are being set up, and multiple countries have pledged aid to assist victims. The European Union announced it would send 130 tonnes of emergency supplies and provide one million euros ($1.2 million) for relief operations.

Challenges of Aid and Response

The EU has become a major aid provider after the United States, previously Afghanistan’s largest aid donor, cut most of its assistance following President Donald Trump’s administration. Experts warn that these aid reductions have already hindered emergency responses and could worsen the situation in the wake of the earthquake.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stated that the scale of need “far exceeds current resources.” They highlighted that reduced funding has affected humanitarian air services, limiting access to remote communities in need.

Villagers Join Rescue Efforts

In the remote mountainous villages, emergency workers struggle to reach survivors. Villagers themselves joined rescue efforts, often using only their hands to clear debris from mud and stone homes that had collapsed.

Obaidullah Stoman, 26, travelled to the village of Wadir to search for a friend. He described the scene as overwhelming: “I’m searching here, but I didn’t see him. It was very difficult for me to see the conditions here. There is only rubble left.”

Villagers wrapped the dead, including children, in white shrouds and prayed before burying them, following local traditions.

Shallow Epicentre Increases Damage

The earthquake’s epicentre was about 27 kilometres (17 miles) from Jalalabad and occurred just eight kilometres below the Earth’s surface. Shallow earthquakes are particularly destructive because the energy released affects structures more strongly. This is especially dangerous in Afghanistan, where most people live in mud-brick homes that collapse easily during tremors.

Many victims in these villages are returnees, part of over four million Afghans who were forced to return from Iran and Pakistan in recent years. Many of these families arrived through the Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar province.

Hospitals Overwhelmed with Injured

Rahmatullah Khaksar, head of the emergency ward at a hospital in Jalalabad, reported receiving 600 injured patients since Sunday night. Most of them suffered trauma injuries to the head, back, abdomen, and legs. Hospitals have even cleared special wards for patients without identification, who remain there until their families can be located.

Earthquake-Prone Country

Afghanistan is frequently affected by earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. This region has a long history of deadly earthquakes.

In October 2023, western Herat province was hit by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed over 1,500 people and destroyed or damaged more than 63,000 homes. In June 2022, a 5.9-magnitude quake struck Paktika province, killing over 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

International Aid and Relief Efforts

Countries and humanitarian organizations continue to provide urgent support. Emergency shelters, medical assistance, and supplies are being delivered to affected areas wherever possible. However, the difficult terrain and damaged roads make access extremely challenging. The combination of limited resources, ongoing aftershocks, and widespread destruction has left the people of eastern Afghanistan facing an immense humanitarian crisis.