A powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake has struck the eastern region of Afghanistan, causing widespread devastation and a rapidly climbing death toll. As rescue operations race to reach remote, mountainous communities, authorities are reporting that over 800 people have been killed and more than 2,500 injured. The true extent of the catastrophe is feared to be even higher, as communication lines are down and many areas remain inaccessible.
The shallow quake, with its epicenter located near the city of Jalalabad in Kunar province, hit just before midnight on Sunday, September 1, 2025. The intense tremors were felt as far away as Kabul, the capital, and across the border in Pakistan.
The quake’s shallow depth of just 8 kilometers (5 miles) is believed to be a major factor in the destructive impact, as it released a concentrated burst of energy directly into the earth’s surface. Homes, often built with mud and brick in these rural areas, were particularly vulnerable and have been reduced to rubble.
Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated in a press conference that the majority of the casualties were in Kunar province. He noted that the initial death toll of over 600 had risen to over 800 and was expected to continue to climb as teams reached more isolated villages.
Rescue efforts are being severely hampered by the remote and rugged terrain. Landslides triggered by the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks have blocked critical roads, making it difficult for emergency vehicles and aid to get through. Video footage from the affected regions shows desperate villagers digging through the rubble with their bare hands, searching for family members and neighbors. Helicopters are being used to ferry the injured to hospitals in nearby cities, but the scale of the need is overwhelming.
The international community, including the United Nations and other aid organizations, has expressed deep concern and is mobilizing to provide assistance. The United Nations in Afghanistan has stated its teams are on the ground and delivering emergency aid, but the challenges of a difficult political landscape and a humanitarian crisis already in place will likely complicate a full-scale response.
This recent tragedy is the deadliest earthquake to hit Afghanistan since the powerful tremor in October 2023, which claimed over 1,500 lives in the western province of Herat, and another in June 2022 that killed more than 1,000 people. The country is particularly susceptible to seismic activity due to its location at the meeting point of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
