A powerful earthquake has struck eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 622 people and injuring more than 1,500. Officials confirmed the magnitude 6 quake hit late on Sunday night, causing widespread destruction in remote villages.
Authorities said rescue teams are struggling to reach affected areas due to damaged roads and difficult terrain. Helicopters have been deployed to move the injured to hospitals, while survivors search through rubble for missing family members.
The Afghan interior ministry confirmed the death toll, warning that the numbers could rise as rescue operations continue. In Kunar province, three villages were completely destroyed, and many others suffered severe damage. Provincial officials reported hundreds of injured and dozens killed in single communities.
Health officials in Kabul said clinics are overwhelmed with casualties. Some hospitals are treating hundreds of patients at once, many with severe injuries caused by collapsing mud and stone houses. “Figures from just a few clinics show over 400 injured,” a ministry spokesperson said, noting the final count could be much higher.
The midnight tremor struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, making it especially destructive. Tremors were also felt in neighboring Pakistan, including parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Its position along the Hindu Kush fault line makes earthquakes frequent and often deadly. A series of tremors in western Afghanistan last year killed more than 1,000 people, adding to the nation’s long history of tragedy.
The disaster comes as Afghanistan faces a humanitarian crisis, with limited foreign aid and growing economic challenges. Officials said no foreign governments have yet offered direct rescue support, raising fears that local resources will not be enough to handle the scale of destruction.
Rescue teams are continuing their search, but many fear the death toll will climb further as more villages are reached.
