Late Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan about 17 miles from Jalalabad, killing at least 250 people and injuring more than 500, according to Afghan authorities; officials warned the toll is likely to rise.
Key Takeaways
- M6.0 quake hit near Jalalabad on Sunday night .
- At least 250 dead and 500+ injured, per local officials.
- Epicenter roughly 17 miles (27 km) from Jalalabad.
- Most fatalities reported in Kunar Province; nine deaths confirmed in Nangarhar.
- Aftershocks were felt in Kabul, less than 100 miles away.
- USGS models indicate significant casualties and widespread damage are likely.
- Buildings in the area are highly vulnerable to seismic shaking.
- Authorities say the death toll could increase as assessments continue.
Verified Facts
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude-6.0 event with shaking centered near Jalalabad, a city of about 200,000 people in Afghanistan’s east. The tremor struck late Sunday and produced aftershocks felt across Kabul through the night.
Sediqullah Quraishi Badloon, a communications official for Nangarhar Province, said most of the known fatalities occurred in neighboring Kunar Province. He added that nine deaths had been confirmed in Nangarhar.
Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid acknowledged casualties and damage across several eastern provinces in a message posted early Monday.
USGS impact models flagged a high likelihood of significant casualties and structural damage, noting that many homes in the region are not built to withstand strong shaking.
| Province | Confirmed deaths | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kunar | Not specified | Officials say the majority of reported fatalities occurred here. |
| Nangarhar | 9 | Includes Jalalabad and surrounding districts. |
Context & Impact
Afghanistan sits along active fault systems shared with Iran and Turkey, where damaging earthquakes are common. Dense settlement patterns and fragile construction raise the risk that moderate quakes can cause severe losses.
In 2022, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake in the southeast killed at least 1,000 people, underscoring the country’s seismic vulnerability.
Response efforts now face headwinds: the economy remains strained, U.S. development aid was suspended earlier this year, and more than two million Afghans have recently been expelled or forced to return from Iran and Pakistan. The United Nations estimates that over half of the country’s 42 million people already require humanitarian assistance.
Official Statements
The earthquake caused loss of life and property damage in some of our eastern provinces.
Zabihullah Mujahid, government spokesman
Explainer
Unconfirmed
- Final casualty and damage totals; assessments are ongoing and could significantly change figures.
- Comprehensive epicenter parameters (depth, exact coordinates) and a full list of affected districts were not available at time of writing.
- Road access and the status of critical infrastructure in remote valleys remain unclear.
Bottom Line
A powerful quake near Jalalabad has killed hundreds and injured many more, with the greatest losses reported in Kunar. Given vulnerable housing and challenging terrain, officials expect the toll to rise as teams reach cut-off communities and conduct detailed assessments.