An earthquake in northeast Afghanistan has killed more than 800 people and injured at least 3,000, with the country’s Taliban-run government appealing for international aid.
The shallow magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near the city of Jalalabad just before midnight, local time. Most casualties occurred in Kunar Province, along the border with Pakistan.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health said all of its “teams have been mobilised to accelerate assistance, so that comprehensive and full support can be provided”, though flooding and landslides have hampered relief efforts. Its Ministry of Defence has deployed 800 kilograms of medicine to Kunar.
United Nations Development, UNICEF, and Red Crescent teams are active in the area. “The United Nations and our partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs, provide emergency assistance and stand ready to mobilise additional support,” said a spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The number of recorded casualties will likely rise as rescue teams reach affected communities in remote areas, the U.N. said.
A number of aftershocks have hit the region after the earthquake, ranging in magnitude from 4.3 to 5.2.
Pakistan’s government has “assured support for the treatment of the wounded as well as the provision of humanitarian assistance,” according to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior Affairs.
The United Arab Emirates has begun sending rescue teams and supplies to Afghanistan, and India has sent food and shelter equipment. Iran, China, and Switzerland have also offered to send aid.
Afghanistan hosts several major fault lines, leading to frequent earthquakes. Afghanistan’s northeastern Hindu Kush region was struck by earthquakes in August, and more than 2,000 people died after a 2023 earthquake in its western Herat Province.
Related content
