A powerful magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan just before midnight on August 31, 2025, unleashing widespread destruction across rural provinces and leaving more than 600 people dead.
The tremors, which were also felt in Kabul and as far away as Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, shook fragile mountain villages and flattened homes built from mud and brick.
According to Afghan officials, Kunar Province suffered the highest losses, with more than 610 people killed and over 1,300 injured.
Neighboring Nangarhar Province reported at least 12 deaths and more than 250 injuries. In total, authorities confirmed at least 622 fatalities and more than 1,500 wounded across the affected areas. Rescue teams fear the toll could rise as emergency workers reach remote communities cut off by landslides.
The quake struck at a shallow depth of about 6 to 10 kilometers, amplifying the destruction. Several strong aftershocks, including two measuring magnitude 5.2, forced survivors to flee their homes in fear of collapsing structures.
Entire villages were reduced to rubble, leaving many families searching for loved ones trapped beneath debris.
A large-scale rescue effort began within hours, with Taliban authorities, local volunteers, and international agencies rushing to provide help.
Helicopters ferried the injured to hospitals while aid workers attempted to deliver food, medicine, and tents. Access to remote valleys has slowed operations, as damaged roads and unstable terrain block relief convoys.
The United Nations and Afghan Red Crescent have sent emergency supplies, but officials warn that Afghanistan’s already strained humanitarian system is struggling to cope.
Years of conflict, economic hardship, and a sharp drop in foreign aid have left communities vulnerable to disasters of this scale.