The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan has risen to 622, with over 1,500 injured, as authorities scramble to reach remote, devastated areas. Rescue operations are ongoing amid mounting fears that the number of casualties could climb significantly.
The 6.0-magnitude quake struck at a shallow depth near the Pakistan border, destroying mud-built homes and cutting off entire villages. Three villages in Kunar province were reportedly razed, with widespread destruction in surrounding districts.
Health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman confirmed that hospitals are overwhelmed and medical supplies are running low. “Only a few clinics are functional, and many are treating patients in open areas,” he said.
In the worst-hit areas, survivors are digging through rubble by hand, with limited access to machinery or aid. Helicopters have been deployed to airlift the severely injured, but bad weather and rugged terrain are slowing down the rescue response.
Kunar’s provincial information chief, Najibullah Hanif, reported over 250 deaths in his region alone and said the numbers are expected to rise as more areas are accessed.
The disaster comes as Afghanistan grapples with an ongoing humanitarian crisis, including reduced international aid and the forced repatriation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries. The lack of external support has added to concerns.
“No foreign government has reached out so far for rescue or relief efforts,” a foreign ministry official said Monday.
Afghanistan is prone to deadly earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush region, where seismic activity is frequent due to tectonic fault lines. Last year, similar quakes in western Afghanistan killed more than 1,000 people.
As rescue teams continue their race against time, officials have appealed for urgent international assistance to prevent further loss of life.
