Afghanistan Earthquake Today: 622 Dead, Rescue Operations On

Kabul, September 1, 2025 — A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake hits eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, leaving at least 622 people dead and more than 1,500 injured, according to official reports. The tremors were felt across Kabul and as far as Islamabad, shaking buildings and sending people rushing out of their homes.

Afghanistan Earthquake: Villages Destroyed, Death Toll Rising

The worst damage has been reported in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, where many mud-brick houses collapsed. Entire villages have been flattened, and survivors are struggling to find shelter. Officials fear the death toll may rise further as many areas remain cut off due to difficult terrain.

Local authorities said at least three villages were completely destroyed in Kunar province. Families are digging through rubble with their bare hands to find missing loved ones.

Rescue Operations and Challenges

Emergency helicopters and medical teams have been deployed, but response efforts face major challenges:

• Remote villages are hard to reach due to damaged roads.

• Hospitals in nearby cities are overwhelmed with patients.

• Thousands of families are sleeping outdoors, fearing aftershocks.

So far, no foreign aid has been announced, raising concerns about how Afghanistan will cope with another humanitarian disaster.

Humanitarian Concerns

This earthquake comes at a time when Afghanistan is already facing food shortages, limited medical supplies, and reduced international aid. Aid groups have warned that immediate assistance—food, tents, clean water, and medical supplies—is urgently needed to prevent further tragedy.

A massive #earthquake struck near #Jalalabad, #Afghanistan. Houses shook, fear spread, and prayers are needed. 🙏#earthquakeafghanistan #SCOSummit2025 #PakistanAtSCO #emiamily Navarro pic.twitter.com/rWocFyPvhw

— Delhi Wala Rahul (@DelhiWaRahul) September 1, 2025

Why This Earthquake Was So Deadly

Experts say the quake was especially destructive because:

• It had a shallow epicenter, causing stronger surface shaking.

• Many homes in eastern Afghanistan are built with mud and stone, making them fragile against quakes.

• Nighttime timing meant most people were indoors, trapped as buildings collapsed.

Afghanistan’s History of Earthquakes

Afghanistan lies in a seismic zone along the Hindu Kush mountains. In recent years, the country has suffered several deadly quakes:

• 2022 Paktika quake (magnitude 6.2) — killed over 1,000 people.

• 2023 Herat earthquakes — killed around 1,500 people.

This latest disaster adds to the long list of tragedies in a country with fragile infrastructure and limited resources.