Devastating Earthquake in Afghanistan
On September 1, 2025, a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan, resulting in over 800 fatalities and injuring more than 1,300 individuals. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake hit around midnight, approximately 17 miles from the eastern city of Jalalabad, close to the Pakistan border.
Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health, acknowledged the challenges in gathering accurate data due to the earthquake affecting mountainous regions. “It’s going to take time to assess the full impact on both people and infrastructure,” he noted.
“We launched a massive rescue effort, mobilizing hundreds of people to assist the affected community,” Zaman stated.
In light of the situation, Zaman called for international support as rescue operations continued, particularly around collapsed structures where survivors were trapped. Currently, about 1,000 injured individuals have been transported to hospitals for medical treatment.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his solidarity with the Afghan people through a post on social media, emphasizing that a UN team has been activated to respond to the disaster.
Several UN agencies, such as the Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, have coordinated their efforts to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the tragedy.
