Afghanistan Earthquake: Casualties and Challenges Emerge After 6.0 Magnitude Quake

Tue Sep 30 2025 00:57:38 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake has rocked eastern Afghanistan, leading to hundreds of deaths and widespread destruction as authorities seek aid amid challenging conditions.

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing hundreds and causing significant damage, particularly in the Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. The quake's shallow depth exacerbates its impact, while mountainous terrain and landslides hinder rescue efforts. Aid organizations are seeking international support as the country grapples with infrastructural challenges.

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan's mountainous eastern region, with authorities saying hundreds of people have been killed. The quake hit at 23:47 local time on Sunday (19:17 GMT) and its epicenter was 27km (17 miles) away from Jalalabad, the country's fifth-largest city, in eastern Nangarhar province.

It was shallow - only 8km deep - and was felt 140km away in the capital, Kabul, as well as in neighboring Pakistan. Hundreds of people are thought to have died. The initial quake was followed by a number of large aftershocks, which are thought to have caused further deaths.

Details are still emerging and it could be some time before the extent of the damage and number of deaths is known. Initial reports indicate significant casualties and widespread damage across parts of Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. These mountainous areas are extremely challenging to reach even in the best of times, which is hampering rescue and relief operations.

More than 600 people are feared dead, the Taliban's interior ministry has said, but warns there is still no clear death toll. The BBC has been told that the road leading to the epicenter has been blocked because of a landslide, so the Taliban government is using helicopters to get people out.

Multiple sources from the government have said that dozens of houses are buried under the rubble. Aid from international organizations has been requested. Access by road to the worst-hit areas is still blocked, but hundreds of homes are likely to have been destroyed, according to Salam Al Janabi from the UN children's charity Unicef.

The earthquake came in the wake of flash flooding over the weekend which left at least five dead, according to local media. Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the country has been pushed into economic collapse, leaving over 23 million Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance.

Afghanistan's financial assets abroad have been frozen, significantly affecting aid delivery. The lack of aid agencies and NGOs operating in the country complicates the verification of information and access to relief. Additionally, past earthquakes have led to significant increases in death tolls once information and access improved following seismic events.

Afghanistan's location atop multiple fault lines makes it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes, with previous tremors causing catastrophic loss of life due to the construction of non-quake-resistant buildings in rural areas.