Devastating Earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan: 800 Dead, Thousands Feared Buried Alive!
A strong earthquake shook eastern Afghanistan late on Sunday, claiming at least 800 lives. The disaster struck close to the border with Pakistan, hitting hard in remote mountain areas. Taliban leaders shared the grim numbers, noting around 2,500 people hurt in the chaos.
The quake measured 6 on the magnitude scale. It rattled provinces like Kunar, which bore the worst damage. Landslides and floods followed, making the situation even tougher for survivors.
This earthquake happened near the surface, which often leads to more harm. Aftershocks kept coming through the night and into Monday. People in Kabul, over 100 miles away, felt the ground move too.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid updated the death count past 800 by Monday afternoon. Rescue teams pushed on, digging through mud and fallen buildings. But broken roads and steep hills slowed them down a lot.
Hospitals in the area overflowed with the injured. Doctors in Kunar’s Asadabad said patients kept arriving non-stop. They called it a huge crisis, with many still missing.
The toll could climb much higher, officials warned. Whole families vanished under the rubble. Local medics struggled to keep up with the flood of cases.
Rasheed Khan, a 40-year-old shop owner from Kabul, lost his loved ones in Kunar’s Watpur village. He spoke of his wife, three kids, and two brothers gone forever. “It’s like the end of the world for me,” he said, heading back home.
Khan worried about others still stuck. “I think thousands are under the debris,” he added. “Will they make it out alive? I just don’t know.”
Afghanistan’s defense team sent 30 doctors and supplies to Kunar. State news reported trucks full of medicine on the way to help strained hospitals.
Taliban officials called for aid groups to step in. Some spots could only be reached by helicopter due to blocked paths from slides and water. They stressed needs like tents, food, water, and rescue gear.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, foreign help has dropped off. Strict rules on women have hurt aid flows. This left the health system weak and unprepared for big events like this.
Challenges in Remote Rescue Operations
Jeremy Smith from the Red Cross highlighted the tough spot. The quake hit far-flung places, making access hard. “Aftershocks keep happening, and more might come,” he noted.
Kunar sits in poor, hilly land where houses use mud and stones. These crumble easily in shakes. The center was near Jalalabad, a busy border town with simple brick homes at risk.
Muhammad Aziz, a worker from Kunar’s Nur Gul, shared his pain. Ten family members died, including his five children. Many villagers stayed trapped, he said.
“Poor folks here have nothing left,” Aziz explained. “Death touches every house. Bodies lie under collapsed roofs. Mud homes are gone, and ruin is all around. People beg for any help.”
Some villages waited hours for rescuers. Damaged tracks turned short trips into long ones. In Nur Gul, a two-hour drive to Masood now took eight. Others needed walking only.
In Masood, almost everyone mourned lost kin. Rescuers feared up to 250 dead there. Many might still be alive under the mess, but time was running out.
Laghman province saw at least 30 hurt, many women among them. Shakes reached Nuristan too, but checks there were not done yet.
Broader Crisis and Global Response
This hits Afghanistan amid deep money troubles. One of the world’s poorest nations, it faces aid cuts from the US. Clinics close, leaving people without care.
Over 2 million Afghans came back from Iran and Pakistan by force. The UN says more than half the 42 million people need help just to get by.
China offered relief based on what Afghanistan asks for. India sent 1,000 tents to Kabul and 15 tons of food to Kunar. More supplies would follow starting Tuesday.
UN leader António Guterres said teams were gearing up to aid the hardest-hit zones. Pope Leo shared thoughts for those who passed.
Afghanistan often faces quakes, especially in the Hindu Kush where earth plates clash. Last year, shakes in the west killed over 1,000.
A 6.3 quake in October 2023 brought huge loss. Taliban said 4,000 died, but UN put it at 1,500. It marked the worst in years for the country.
Rescuers kept at it through tough odds. Families like Khan’s and Aziz’s clung to hope. But the steep land and ongoing shakes made every hour count.
Aid calls grew louder as needs mounted. Food, shelter, and medical help topped the list. International groups pledged support, but delivery to remote spots stayed a big hurdle.
The quake exposed weak spots in building and readiness. Mud homes in mountains offered little safety. Experts noted shallow quakes like this amplify damage fast.
Survivors shared stories of sudden terror. One moment, sleep; the next, walls falling. Aftershocks brought fresh fear, keeping people outside.
Local leaders coordinated with air drops where roads failed. Helicopters became key in reaching cut-off villages. But fuel and weather added risks.
Hospitals turned to makeshift wards outside. Overworked staff treated wounds from debris. Shortages of bandages and pain relief hit hard.
Communities rallied to dig by hand. Neighbors pulled out friends with bare strength. Yet, heavy mud layers buried hopes for many.
The economic strain worsened the pain. Job loss and hunger already plagued the land. Now, lost homes pushed more into despair.
Global eyes turned to Afghanistan once more. Past disasters showed slow recovery. This time, quick aid could save lives still in balance.
As days passed, the full scale would emerge. Missing lists grew, and grief spread wide. But resilience in the face of tragedy shone through.
