Afghanistan Earthquake: Death Toll Climbs Past 1,400 as Rescues Continue Amid Aftershocks
Afghanistan Earthquake: Death Toll Climbs Past 1,400 as Rescues Continue Amid Aftershocks
The death toll from the devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday has tragically risen to over 1,400, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The powerful tremor, which decimated several villages, also left more than 3,100 people injured, according to government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.
Rescue operations are still intensely underway in the affected regions, with dozens of commandos airlifted to remote areas to extract the injured from rubble, as stated by deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat. The humanitarian crisis deepened on Tuesday when a second 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck approximately 20 miles northeast of Jalalabad, further complicating relief efforts.
Sunday’s initial quake, centered about 17 miles east of Jalalabad, primarily impacted Kunar Province, though Nangarhar Province also reported casualties and extensive damage. Shah Mahmood, a Taliban official in Nangarhar, indicated that around 8,000 homes were destroyed, with fears that more dead and injured remain trapped in villages yet to be reached by emergency responders.
The World Health Organization in Afghanistan estimates that approximately 12,000 people have been directly affected by the disaster, with hardest-hit districts including Chawkay, Nurgal, Chapa Dara, Dara-e-Pech, and Watapur in Kunar. U.N. special rapporteur Richard Bennett expressed his deepest condolences, noting the escalating scale of devastation. Medical facilities, while largely functional, are grappling with the influx of injured, including many children separated from their families, highlighting the profound human suffering.
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