Afghanistan Earthquake Aftermath: Rescuers Race Against Time as Death Toll Exceeds 800
Afghanistan Earthquake Aftermath: Rescuers Race Against Time as Death Toll Exceeds 800
Survivors in eastern Afghanistan are spending a second night in the open as rescue operations intensify following a devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake. The quake, which struck on Sunday night, has claimed over 800 lives and injured thousands, with officials warning the death toll is expected to rise significantly.
Most casualties have been reported in the mountainous Kunar province, near the epicenter. Entire villages have been flattened, and many areas remain inaccessible due to blocked roads, making relief efforts challenging. Helicopters were deployed Monday morning to reach the hardest-hit regions.
Local health facilities, already under strain, are overwhelmed with the influx of victims. Hospitals in cities like Jalalabad are struggling to cope, with 460 victims brought in to its main hospital alone. International aid has been pledged by several nations, including China, India, the UK, and Switzerland, as Afghanistan grapples with a severe drought and a deepening hunger crisis.
Eyewitnesses describe a scene of terror, with residents jolted awake by violent tremors and subsequent aftershocks. Many are too scared to return to their homes, fearing further collapses. The immediate priority for rescue teams is reaching the injured, as hopes of finding more survivors under the rubble diminish.
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