A powerful magnitude‑6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near Jalalabad late Sunday, leaving at least 812 people dead and nearly 2,800 injured, particularly in the hard‑hit provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar.

The quake hit at a shallow depth of just 10 km, making it extremely destructive.

Villages made of fragile mud-brick homes collapsed, and rescue efforts are being slowed by landslides, debris, and ongoing bad weather.

With roads blocked or destroyed, helicopters and military teams are now leading rescue missions, conducting about 40 evacuation flights, moving both the injured and the deceased to hospitals in better-equipped cities.

The Taliban government is calling for urgent international aid.

The UN, China, and other humanitarian groups are mobilizing support, but a steep drop in foreign aid, down from $3.8 billion in 2022 to $767 million in 2025 has severely limited response capacity.

This quake has exposed Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters.

Its shallow depth and timing in vulnerable, mountainous areas with weak infrastructure turned the tremor into a deadly catastrophe.

Also Read: Afghanistan earthquake update: 622 dead, thousands injured

Helicopters and military teams have become lifelines amid blocked roads and overwhelmed hospitals.

The sharp reduction in foreign aid since the Taliban took power has left the country ill-prepared for emergencies.

As rescue efforts continue, the international community’s prompt response is vital to save lives and prevent further suffering.