Rescue teams in eastern Afghanistan resumed operations this morning after a magnitude 6.0 earthquake late on Sunday devastated parts of Kunar and neighboring Nangarhar, killing at least 800 people and injuring about 1,800, according to Taliban authorities and humanitarian agencies. The worst damage is in Kunar’s mountainous districts, where whole villages were reportedly flattened and access roads blocked.
Key takeaways
- At least 800 dead and around 1,800 injured across Kunar and Nangarhar, with tolls expected to rise.
- Epicenter was 27 km (17 miles) east of Jalalabad; quake depth about 8 km (5 miles).
- Kunar province, including Nurgal district, suffered extensive village-level destruction and road blockages.
- Tremors were felt as far as Kabul, roughly 140 km (87 miles) away.
- Local hospitals, including Asadabad’s provincial facility, report being over capacity; urgent needs include shelter, tents, and medicines.
- UN releases an initial $5 million from CERF; UK commits £1 million via UNFPA and IFRC; India sends tents and food; other countries pledge support.
- Humanitarian access for women is a concern in conservative areas; aid groups stress the need for female responders.
- Funding cuts have shuttered dozens of clinics in the region, hindering care for hundreds of thousands.
Verified facts
The earthquake struck late Sunday with a magnitude of 6.0 and a shallow depth of approximately 8 km. Its epicenter was located about 27 km east of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province. Shaking was reported across eastern Afghanistan and into Pakistan.
Authorities and aid workers say Kunar province bore the brunt of the destruction. In Nurgal district, local officials and residents reported entire villages destroyed and roads rendered impassable, complicating rescue operations.
Casualty figures reported by local authorities and humanitarian agencies stand at a minimum of 800 dead and roughly 1,800 injured, with the expectation that these numbers will rise as remote areas are reached. Hospitals in the region, including Asadabad’s provincial hospital, are treating patients beyond capacity.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that shelter, blankets, and emergency food are immediate priorities. OCHA teams are coordinating with local authorities and partners to deliver hot meals and high-energy biscuits as access allows.
International pledges include an initial $5 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), £1 million in UK support split between UNFPA and IFRC, and Indian assistance comprising 1,000 tents delivered to Kabul and 15 tonnes of food bound for Kunar, with further shipments planned. Other countries, including China and Switzerland, have also offered aid.
Context and impact
Afghanistan sits on the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making damaging earthquakes a recurring hazard. The shallow depth of this event amplified surface shaking and structural damage, particularly in fragile, hillside settlements.
Humanitarian responders warn that access constraints—mountainous terrain, blocked roads, and limited heavy equipment—will slow search-and-rescue operations and delivery of supplies. Recent funding shortfalls have further strained the response capacity; aid groups report that more than 80 health clinics in the quake-affected region have closed in recent months, limiting care for over 500,000 people.
Gender access is a pressing concern. Aid organizations highlight that cultural norms and restrictions on women’s movement can delay treatment for women and girls. Humanitarian groups stress the need to deploy female staff to reach them effectively.
Displacement pressures at the border
Local reporting indicates some affected families had recently been deported from Pakistan. The UN and rights groups have documented accelerated returns of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan this year, adding vulnerability to households now coping with earthquake losses.
Aid pledged so far
- UN CERF: $5 million for immediate, flexible response.
- United Kingdom: £1 million via UNFPA and IFRC for healthcare and emergency supplies.
- India: 1,000 tents delivered to Kabul; 15 tonnes of food moving to Kunar; further relief planned.
- Other donors: China and Switzerland among those signaling additional support.
Official statements
Our beds are full. We’ve treated more than 200 people today and need more help—especially tents and medicine.
Provincial hospital doctor, Asadabad (via BBC)
We are prioritizing shelter, blankets, hot meals, and high-energy biscuits, and working to reach as many people as possible.
Amy Martin, OCHA Afghanistan (to BBC)
The UK’s £1 million will help partners deliver critical healthcare and emergency supplies to the hardest-hit.
David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary
An initial $5 million has been released from the UN’s emergency response fund.
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Unconfirmed
- Exact numbers of people trapped beneath rubble remain unknown as access improves.
- The full extent of destruction in Kunar’s most remote hamlets has yet to be independently assessed.
- Details of individual cases involving recent deportations from Pakistan are not fully verified.
Bottom line
This earthquake is one of Afghanistan’s deadliest in recent years, striking a remote region where rugged terrain and funding gaps already constrain emergency care. With casualties likely to rise, rapid, coordinated aid—especially shelter, medical supplies, and female-led outreach—will be decisive in the days ahead.