KABUL – Extraordinary footage has emerged showing daring helicopter rescue operations in the aftermath of Afghanistan's devastating earthquake, which has claimed over 2,000 lives and left thousands more injured and homeless.
The video, obtained by The Independent, captures the heroic efforts of rescue teams as they evacuate critically injured victims from remote, mountainous regions that have been completely cut off by the disaster.
Race Against Time in Devastated Regions
Saturday's catastrophic 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Herat province with brutal force, flattening entire villages and overwhelming the country's already fragile healthcare system. The disaster has created a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions.
"The scale of destruction is unimaginable," reported one aid worker on the ground. "Whole communities have been wiped out in moments. We're racing against time to reach survivors buried under the rubble."
International Response Mobilises
The international community has begun mobilising support, with several countries pledging emergency aid and assistance. However, access remains severely challenging due to the remote location of the worst-affected areas and Afghanistan's complex political situation.
Rescue teams continue to work around the clock, using heavy machinery and hand tools to search for survivors amidst the debris of collapsed homes and buildings.
Survivors Face Growing Crisis
Thousands of survivors now face a secondary crisis as night-time temperatures drop and access to clean water, food, and medical supplies remains limited. Many are sleeping in open fields, too terrified to return to damaged buildings amid ongoing aftershocks.
Local hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties, with medical staff working tirelessly to treat crush injuries, fractures, and trauma cases with limited resources and supplies.
The earthquake represents one of the deadliest natural disasters to strike Afghanistan in recent decades, compounding the country's existing humanitarian challenges following years of conflict and political instability.
