Afghanistan Hit by Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake, Hundreds Feared Injured and Dead Amid Rescue Challenges
A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing at least 812 people and injuring over 2,800 others, according to Taliban officials. The shallow quake, which occurred near the Pakistan border, demolished entire villages in remote mountainous areas, leaving hundreds more feared trapped under rubble as aftershocks and landslides hinder rescue operations. In a nation already grappling with economic hardship and humanitarian crises, this disaster has prompted urgent calls for international aid, with the United Nations warning it could overwhelm strained resources.
The Earthquake: Epicenter, Timing, and Initial Devastation
When and Where It Struck
The earthquake hit at 11:47 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. ET) on August 31, 2025, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province, near the border with Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. At a shallow depth of just 8 kilometers (5 miles), the quake caused intense shaking, registering a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VII-VIII (Very strong to Severe) near the epicenter. Tremors were felt in Kabul, 140 kilometers away, as well as in Pakistan’s Peshawar and Islamabad, and even as far as Delhi in India.
Immediate Aftermath and Aftershocks
At least 13 aftershocks followed, including two of 5.2 magnitude and one of 4.5, exacerbating the destruction with landslides and flooding from recent rains. In Kunar Province, three villages were completely razed, with dozens more suffering severe damage to mud-brick homes. Officials reported 610 deaths in Kunar alone, plus 12 in Nangarhar, where nine fatalities occurred in Darai Nur District, including two children killed by a collapsing roof. Hospitals in Asadabad and Jalalabad are overwhelmed, treating hundreds of injuries, many among women and children.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes: “It felt as if the entire mountain was collapsing,” said one resident from Kunar’s Nurgal District, where dozens perished in a single village. Another survivor, Hameed Jan, lost his wife, two sons, and two brothers after being buried in rubble for hours.
Background: Afghanistan’s Seismic Hotspot and Compounding Crises
Afghanistan sits in a seismically active zone along the Hindu Kush mountains, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide at rates up to 39 mm per year, generating frequent quakes up to 300 km deep. This is the third major deadly earthquake since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover: a 5.9-magnitude event in 2022 killed over 1,000, and a 6.3-magnitude quake in Herat in 2023 claimed up to 4,000 lives per Taliban estimates (1,500 per UN).
The disaster compounds existing woes. Recent floods in Nangarhar damaged infrastructure, while over 2.3 million Afghans have been deported from Pakistan and Iran this year, straining resources. Humanitarian funding covers only 30% of needs, down from $3.8 billion in 2022 to $767 million in 2025, due to global crises and Taliban policies on women. Drought and reduced livestock have left half the population—23 million people—in need of aid, per UN estimates.
Rescue and Relief Efforts: Terrain and Resources Pose Major Hurdles
Taliban forces deployed 200 soldiers, 30 ambulances, and helicopters, airlifting over 420 wounded to facilities like Kabul’s Daoud Khan Military Hospital. The Defense Ministry sent 30 doctors and truckloads of medicine to Kunar, while the Afghan Red Crescent provided medical teams. However, steep terrain, blocked roads from landslides, and aftershocks have delayed access, with some areas reachable only by air.
International aid is limited: Iran, India, Japan, and the EU pledged support, but few commitments have materialized. UN Secretary-General António Guterres mobilized teams, estimating 12,000 affected. The International Rescue Committee warned of a “perfect storm,” noting funding cuts have closed hundreds of healthcare centers. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged global relief for field hospitals, shelter, food, and water.
Expert Opinions and Public Reactions
Seismologists like Professor Richard Walker from the University of Oxford highlighted vulnerable construction in the Hindu Kush, where mud-and-rock homes amplify damage. UN officials called it one of Afghanistan’s deadliest quakes in a decade, with IRC’s Sherine Ibrahim fearing it will “dwarf” the 2023 response. Kate Carey of the UN’s Office for Humanitarian Affairs noted the area’s inaccessibility due to landslides and rains.
On X, reactions showed horror and pleas for help: The Afghan-American Foundation posted, “From drought to deportation to disaster, Afghans cannot face this alone,” urging donations. Users shared rescue videos, with one stating, “800+ lives lost… Entire villages destroyed.” Global solidarity emerged, but criticism targeted slow aid: “Aid groups say U.S. funding cuts are slowing relief.” Eyewitness Rasheed Khan lamented, “It’s doomsday for me,” after losing family.
Impact on U.S. Readers: Humanitarian, Economic, and Geopolitical Connections
For Americans, this tragedy spotlights Afghanistan’s post-2021 fragility, where U.S. aid cuts under the Trump administration—suspending $1.7 billion—have forced healthcare closures and heightened vulnerability. Economically, it underscores global risks, as deportations affect Afghan refugees with U.S. ties, potentially increasing migration pressures. Politically, it may prompt reviews of foreign aid policy, influencing relations with Pakistan and regional stability.
Lifestyle impacts hit diaspora communities; Afghan-Americans are fundraising amid fears for relatives. Broader effects include calls for U.S. contributions via UN channels, potentially saving lives and stabilizing the region amid rising hate crimes against Muslims in the U.S.
Conclusion: Urgent Need for Global Solidarity in Recovery
The 6.0-magnitude earthquake has devastated eastern Afghanistan, claiming over 800 lives and injuring thousands, with hundreds more feared amid ongoing rescues in rugged terrain. As aftershocks persist and aid trickles in, the Taliban’s pleas highlight a humanitarian system on the brink. International support could prevent further loss, but funding shortfalls threaten long-term recovery. For the world, including U.S. policymakers, this is a call to action—swift relief might ease suffering and foster stability. Updates from the UN and Taliban indicate the toll may rise, but coordinated efforts offer hope for survivors facing an uncertain winter.