A magnitude-6 earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan just before midnight on Sunday, wreaking havoc throughout the Afghan provinces of Paktika and Paktia, and parts of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The 7.8 magnitude tremor has already killed 800 people and injured 2,500 according to the latest reports. The disaster hit in one of Afghanistan’s kulturniks, an urban province characterized by vibrant trade cities like Jalalabad. According to local reports, as rescue efforts persist, the death toll may climb into the hundreds.
The earthquake’s relatively shallow depth – a measure that normally increases destruction – made it especially violent. As the nation comes to terms with the disaster’s immediate aftermath, first responders and local officials are pouring invaluable resources into communities to help victims and families heal. Afghanistan’s ministry of defense sent 30 doctors to Kunar province. They not only rushed protective gear, but sent truckloads of medicine to support local hospitals with traumatized casualties.
Kunar is a poor, mountainous region. Its unique homes such as the beehive and mud brick are very susceptible to seismic activity. The provincial hospital in Asadabad is on the verge of what medics say is an impending disaster. Most residents were surprised by the earthquake, which hit in the middle of the night.
“The poor people in this area have lost everything,” said local resident Muhammad Aziz.
Terrifying reports suggested that multiple aftershocks, including one with a magnitude as high as 7.5, shook the region Monday and overnight, hampering ongoing rescue efforts. In Laghman province, officials confirmed at least 30 injuries, most of them women.
This catastrophic impact of this earthquake follows a spate of seismic disasters that struck western Afghanistan in late 2022. These immediate aftershocks unfortunately resulted in over 1,000 deaths. The region is historically prone to earthquakes, particularly within the Hindu Kush mountain range, which has experienced significant seismic activity over the years.
“It’s doomsday for me. I have lost my wife, three children and two brothers, and I don’t know what has happened to my other relatives and fellow villagers,” he lamented. “I fear thousands still remain trapped under the rubble, and I don’t know if they will be saved or not.”
Aid is finally starting to rush into Afghanistan as countries near and far have started reacting to this humanitarian crisis. China has expressed its readiness to provide disaster relief assistance, stating it will act “according to Afghanistan’s needs and within its capacity.” For instance, India has recently sent 1,000 family tents to Kabul. Further, the country is dispatching 15 tonnes of foodstuffs to Kunar and pledges to offer additional assistance.
On the ground, local authorities and rescue workers have toiled under immense challenges. They describe a situation that truly is devastated, with entire families now homeless and living in desperate need of help.
As rescue teams continue to sift through the debris in search of survivors, the reality of the situation is becoming more dire by the day. With so many more families still waiting to learn the fate of their loved ones, the need for better disaster response preparedness actions couldn’t be more urgent.
“There is death in every home, and beneath the rubble of each roof there are dead bodies. The mud houses have been wiped away and destruction is everywhere. People are desperately seeking help,” added Muhammad Aziz.
As rescue teams sift through debris in search of survivors, the reality of the situation becomes increasingly grim. Many families are uncertain about the fate of their loved ones, heightening the urgency for effective disaster response measures.