A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late on August 31, 2025, leaving a trail of destruction across Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. The tremors, felt as far as Kabul and even Islamabad, struck just before midnight when most families were asleep. With its shallow epicenter barely 8 kilometers deep, the quake unleashed maximum ground shaking, causing widespread structural collapse in villages built with mud and brick. By the morning, the scale of the tragedy became clear: at least 610 people had lost their lives, while over 1,300 others were injured, though some estimates place the toll much higher.
The devastation was particularly severe in remote mountain villages where rescue efforts have been slow to reach. Landslides triggered by the tremors blocked roads, leaving many communities cut off and forcing rescuers to hike long distances through treacherous terrain. Survivors described entire hamlets flattened in seconds, with families trapped beneath rubble and livestock buried under collapsed barns. The timing of the quake, striking at night, added to the toll as most victims were caught unprepared in their sleep.
The humanitarian crisis has overwhelmed Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure. Hospitals in Jalalabad and nearby towns quickly filled beyond capacity, treating hundreds of patients with limited supplies and equipment. Emergency tents were erected to house the injured, while doctors pleaded for more medicines and blood donations. The Afghan Red Crescent, the United Nations, and aid groups have rushed to provide assistance, dispatching helicopters, medical teams, and food supplies. Neighboring countries, including Pakistan and China, have offered support, and international relief agencies are preparing for a large-scale operation.
Despite these efforts, the challenges are immense. Many survivors remain trapped beneath rubble, while others are without shelter, food, or clean water. Communication networks are patchy, and the mountainous geography continues to slow down rescue teams. For families who managed to escape, the immediate fear now is exposure, as makeshift camps have sprung up in open fields with little protection. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, raising concerns of a secondary humanitarian emergency in the coming days.
Afghanistan’s vulnerability to earthquakes is not new. Situated at the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, the region frequently experiences seismic activity, especially in the Hindu Kush range. Past disasters, such as the quakes of June 2022 and October 2023, had already exposed the weakness of local infrastructure. Yet, with poverty widespread and decades of conflict eroding state capacity, rebuilding efforts have been slow. This latest tragedy only deepens the humanitarian scars of a nation already grappling with drought, displacement, and economic hardship.
As rescue operations continue, the death toll is expected to rise. For many Afghans, the earthquake is a painful reminder of their country’s precarious existence—caught between natural disaster and political instability, with limited resources to cope. The international community’s response in the coming days will be crucial in determining how quickly relief reaches survivors and whether entire communities can recover from this catastrophic blow.
