Afghanistan Devastating Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 1,400

(MENAFN) The death count from Sunday night’s catastrophic earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has risen above 1,400, according to interim administration spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday.

Injuries have mounted to at least 3,251 across four eastern provinces, with more than 8,000 homes obliterated by the tremor. The Afghan Red Crescent reports many remain trapped beneath rubble as rescue operations continue.

Kunar province suffered the most devastating impact, reporting 1,411 fatalities and 3,124 injuries, alongside the destruction of 5,412 homes. Officials warn the death toll could climb further as data from Nangarhar, Laghman, and Panjshir provinces is still being collected.

This marks the third significant earthquake to strike Afghanistan since the Taliban resumed control in August 2021, adding to the nation’s ongoing challenges.

The quake, recorded by the US Geological Survey at 11:47 p.m. local time (1917 GMT), struck 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad at a shallow depth of 8 km, catching many residents off guard as they slept.

Abdul Ghani, spokesperson for the interim administration in Kunar, told a news agency that rescue teams have been active in the hardest-hit areas since Monday. "The death toll may rise as many people are still under the rubble," he said.

He further detailed that dozens of homes were leveled in the Nur Gal, Sawki, Watpur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara districts. Relief supplies and medical teams were dispatched promptly from Kabul, with additional aid en route.

Several countries, including neighboring Pakistan, Iran, China, and India, alongside Western nations, have pledged support to assist Afghanistan in the aftermath of this disaster.

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