Afghanistan Earthquake Deaths Climb to Over 1,400

(MENAFN) The catastrophic earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday has now claimed over 1,400 lives, according to interim-administration spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday.

More than 3,251 individuals have sustained injuries across the region’s four eastern provinces, while the seismic event destroyed upwards of 8,000 homes. The Afghan Red Crescent warned that numerous victims remain trapped beneath the rubble as search and rescue operations continue.

Kunar province remains the epicenter of the disaster, reporting 1,411 fatalities and 3,124 injuries. The quake also obliterated 5,412 houses in this area alone. Officials caution that the death toll could rise once figures from Nangarhar, Laghman, and Panjshir provinces are fully accounted for.

This marks the third significant earthquake to strike Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, further complicating the country’s ongoing challenges.

The US Geological Survey recorded the quake at 11:47 p.m. local time (1917 GMT), pinpointing the epicenter 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad at a shallow depth of 8 kilometers, striking when most residents were asleep.

In Kunar, where entire villages have been devastated, Abdul Ghani, the provincial spokesman for the interim Afghan administration, told a news agency that rescue teams arrived promptly and have been working tirelessly since Monday.

"The death toll may rise as many people are still under the rubble," Ghani stated.

He further detailed widespread destruction, noting that dozens of houses were wiped out in Nur Gal, Sawki, Watpur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara districts.

Relief efforts commenced swiftly with the dispatch of aid and medical teams from Kabul on Monday, and Ghani confirmed additional assistance is en route.

International support is mounting, with countries including neighboring Pakistan, Iran, China, India, and various Western nations pledging aid to the quake-stricken region.

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