Over 800 Killed, Thousands Injured as Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Devastates Eastern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nangarhar provinces near the Pakistan border just before midnight on August 31, 2025, killing at least 812 people and injuring over 2,800, according to Taliban government estimates. The shallow quake, centered 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad at a depth of 8 kilometers, leveled entire villages of mud-brick homes in the mountainous Kunar province, exacerbating the region’s vulnerability due to recent flooding.

Rescue operations face significant challenges, with landslides and impassable roads hindering access to remote areas. The Taliban has deployed helicopters, airlifting 420 casualties to hospitals in Jalalabad and Kabul, while 30 doctors and 800 kilograms of medical supplies have been dispatched. The Afghan Red Crescent, alongside UN agencies like UNICEF and the World Food Programme, is providing emergency shelter, food, and medical aid. However, Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis and reduced foreign aid since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover are straining relief efforts.

The earthquake’s impact is worsened by the region’s fragile infrastructure and recent floods, which had already displaced thousands. Over 1,200 homes were destroyed, and many residents remain trapped under rubble, prompting fears that the death toll could rise. International support has been pledged, with Iran, India, Japan, and the European Union offering financial aid and rescue teams. Pakistan, despite tense relations, opened border crossings to facilitate aid delivery.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid described the disaster as a “major test” for Afghanistan, urging global assistance. The United Nations estimates that 1.2 million people in the affected areas need urgent help. Historical quakes, like the 2022 Khost earthquake that killed over 1,000, underscore Afghanistan’s seismic vulnerability, with experts warning of potential aftershocks in the coming days.