Severe Earthquake Hits Afghanistan, Casualties Rise

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan, leading to a grim total of 2,205 fatalities and over 3,600 injuries. This latest tremor is the third to impact the region since two earlier quakes occurred on Sunday and Tuesday.

The German Center for Geoscience Research reported that the earthquake hit southeastern Afghanistan on Thursday, emphasizing its significance as the third tremor in just a few days.

Naqibra Rahimi, a spokesperson for Nangarhar Province’s Ministry of Health, shared that the epicenter was located in the isolated Siwa district near the border with Pakistan. Initial reports indicate significant damage in the Barkashkot area, though assessments are still underway.

The initial quake on Sunday had a magnitude of 6.0 and devastated areas in Kunar and Nangarhar, occurring at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers (just over 6 miles). A second tremor measuring 5.5 hit on Tuesday, obstructing a mountain route and triggering a landslide that hindered rescue efforts.

“About 84,000 people have been affected, both directly and indirectly, with thousands needing evacuation,” he noted, highlighting the scale of the disaster.

Survivors are struggling without adequate shelter, and humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, have expressed concerns over diminishing resources, emphasizing the urgent need for food, medical assistance, and housing.

Rescue teams have been working tirelessly, searching through rubble on Thursday to recover bodies from collapsed buildings.

“We lost everything,” said Aarem Yang, describing how his home in Kunar was reduced to rubble. “All we have left are the clothes on our backs,” he added, sitting beneath a tree next to their scattered belongings.

Kate Carey, deputy director of the UN office for humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, indicated that more than 420 health facilities have either closed or suspended services due to severe funding cuts, with 80 of those being in the Eastern region, facing the greatest crisis.

“The remaining facilities are overwhelmed, lacking sufficient supplies and personnel, and are not as prepared as more localized facilities for providing immediate trauma care during the crucial first 24-72 hours post-earthquake,” Carey explained.

In response, Taliban authorities have set up camps in Kunar to manage aid and humanitarian efforts. These facilities are focused on evacuating the injured, managing burials, and rescuing survivors.