Afghanistan Earthquake Leaves Hundreds Dead, Rescue Efforts Hampered by Landslides

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE

Article Published on: 02ND SEP 2025 | www.demodemagazine.com

A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, devastating remote mountainous regions and leaving over 800 feared dead. The quake, which hit at 23:47 local time (19:17 GMT), had its epicentre 27 km from Jalalabad in Nangarhar province and was shallow at just 8 km deep. Tremors were felt as far as Kabul, 140 km away, and in neighbouring Pakistan.

The disaster has caused widespread destruction, with dozens of houses buried under rubble and hundreds injured. A major road leading to the epicentre has been blocked by a landslide, forcing the Taliban government to use helicopters for evacuation. Access challenges in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces are slowing rescue operations, while aftershocks are believed to have caused further casualties.

International aid has been requested, and several countries have pledged support. UNICEF warns that hundreds of homes have likely been destroyed, as relief efforts race against time.