Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 1,400, Thousands Injured

Taliban officials say rescue efforts hampered by rough terrain and aftershocks as aid slowly arrives

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Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 1,400, Thousands Injured

The death toll from Afghanistan’s deadliest earthquake in years has risen to at least 1,411, with more than 3,100 people injured and over 5,400 homes destroyed, according to Taliban officials.

The 6.0-magnitude quake struck just after midnight on Monday in the mountainous eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar, devastating remote villages and overwhelming limited local resources.

“We cannot accurately predict how many bodies might still be trapped under the rubble,” said Ehsanullah Ehsan, head of Kunar’s disaster management department, adding that rescue efforts are hindered by damaged mountain roads and ongoing aftershocks.

The Afghan Red Crescent Society warned that more victims may be buried under collapsed mud-and-brick houses, while the UN said the toll is likely to rise further. Thousands of children remain at risk, UNICEF reported, as families shelter in the open without adequate food, tents, or medical aid.

Helicopters and ambulances are ferrying supplies and the wounded, but the fragile healthcare system is “overwhelmed,” according to the World Health Organization. “Damaged roads, ongoing aftershocks, and remote locations of many villages severely impede the delivery of aid,” it said.

International assistance has begun trickling in. India has dispatched tents and food supplies, while Britain pledged £1 million ($1.35 million) to support UN and Red Cross relief efforts. Pledges of aid have also come from China, the UAE, the EU, Pakistan, and Iran, though much of it is yet to arrive.

The disaster adds to Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis as the Taliban administration grapples with reduced foreign aid, economic collapse, and strained international relations.

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Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 1,400, Thousands Injured

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