Major Earthquake Strikes Afghan-Pakistan Border, Causing Devastation
A significant earthquake hit the Afghan-Pakistan border area on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of over 800 individuals and injuring at least 2,800 more. This earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 6.0, occurred around 11:47 PM local time, approximately 17 miles northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. Most fatalities were reported from the nearby Kunar province, according to the Taliban officials.
“The entire village in Kunar province has suffered greatly,” officials stated. Emergency teams are being mobilized from Kabul and surrounding provinces to aid in rescue efforts. They’re determined to utilize all available resources to help affected families and rescue those in need.
Kunar is characterized by its poor, mountainous terrain, and many houses there are built from mud and rock, making them particularly vulnerable. The shallow depth of this earthquake has led to significant destruction, as these structures are ill-equipped to take such forces.
“Geography plays a role here. These villages are quite spread out, so earthquakes often trigger landslides, complicating access to affected areas. Time is of the essence to reach these remote locations, and that remains our greatest challenge,” said Haider, a local official.
A resident from Kunar shared with reporters that he lost ten relatives, including five children, due to the quake. He described the situation as tragic, noting how every home has been touched by loss and describes many homes as completely destroyed. “People are in desperate need of help,” he added.
Geologists confirmed that the earthquake was relatively shallow, at about five miles deep, which typically leads to more devastation. Officials from the Taliban mentioned that three villages in Kunar were essentially wiped off the map, with significant damage reported in others. Of the confirmed deaths, 610 were from Kunar and 12 from Nangarhar.
This disaster threatens to further strain the resources of the already beleaguered Taliban regime, which is grappling with a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by dwindling aid and massive displacement of Afghans into neighboring countries.
The Taliban has urged for international humanitarian assistance for the earthquake victims. However, many major donor nations may be reluctant to respond, given the Taliban’s poor human rights record and issues concerning the misappropriation of aid.
Interestingly, just two weeks prior, the Taliban held a national celebration to mark the anniversary of their takeover, making bold requests for global recognition. As of now, only Russia has formally recognized their government.
Since the Taliban’s rise, Afghanistan has experienced three significant earthquakes. Humanitarian aid has dramatically decreased from $3.8 billion in 2022 to merely $767 million this year. In past incidents, such as the devastating earthquake in Herat in 2023, thousands lost their lives.
The deadliest earthquake in modern Afghan history occurred in 1998, claiming at least 7,000 lives across various tremors. A more powerful quake in 1956 recorded a magnitude of 7.3, but it struck less populated areas, resulting in fewer casualties.
While Pakistani officials reported no fatalities related to this recent earthquake, its effects were felt across the border. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shebaz Sharif, expressed support for Afghanistan, extending condolences to the grieving families.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense reported that rescue teams are making efforts to reach the remote, mountainous areas where injuries and fatalities have occurred. In recent reports, helicopters and ambulances have been spotted transferring wounded individuals from the disaster zones. So far, 420 injured individuals have been evacuated via helicopter flights.
