A devastating earthquake struck Afghanistan, leaving over 600 people dead and injuring more than 1,500, according to reports from authorities on Monday. Many of the injured were transported to hospitals after helicopters were deployed to assist survivors.
This catastrophe compounds existing challenges faced by South Asian nations, which are already grappling with a humanitarian crisis due to declining aid and a surge of displaced individuals from neighboring countries.
The magnitude 6 quake particularly affected the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar, as per the Home Ministry controlled by the Taliban. They’ve reported at least 622 fatalities, thousands of injuries, and a widespread destruction of homes.
“All of our teams are mobilized to accelerate our support so we can provide comprehensive assistance,” stated Abdul Maten Kanyi, a Ministry spokesperson, highlighting ongoing efforts in areas such as security, food, and health services.
In Kabul, health officials mentioned that rescue operations are racing against time to reach remote communities in regions already vulnerable to earthquakes and flooding.
This was the deadliest earthquake in Afghanistan since June 2022, when a magnitude 6.1 quake resulted in over 1,000 deaths.
Footage from Reuters showed helicopters working to evacuate affected individuals, with local residents assisting soldiers and medical personnel in transferring the injured to ambulances.
The quake caused the destruction of three villages in Kunar, with officials reporting at least 610 casualties there and 12 in Nangarhar.
Rescuers were also striving to locate survivors in areas close to Pakistan’s Kyabparkhtunkhwa region, which experienced significant damage as homes crumbled under the force of the quake.
The Defense Ministry’s statement mentioned military rescue teams had been deployed across two provinces, indicating that many were injured or killed.
Interestingly, a spokesperson from the foreign ministry noted there hasn’t been any outreach to foreign governments for help with rescue and relief efforts so far.
Afghanistan is particularly susceptible to severe earthquakes, notably in the Hindu Kush Mountains where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. A series of quakes last year claimed over 1,000 lives, underscoring the country’s vulnerability to such disasters in one of the world’s poorest regions.
