The Taliban has issued an urgent plea for international assistance after a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan killed more than 1,400 people and injured thousands. The 6.0-magnitude quake struck on Sunday in the eastern province of Kunar, destroying entire villages and leaving many trapped under rubble. A second earthquake, of magnitude 5.5, hit the south-east on Tuesday, raising fears of further casualties.
Rescuers are struggling to reach remote mountainous areas due to rough terrain and heavy rain, which has heightened the risk of landslides and left many roads impassable. The initial quake, at a shallow depth of six miles, caused particularly severe destruction. Officials warn that the death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams gain access to isolated locations.
Afghanistan’s Taliban administration, already grappling with a severe economic crisis and a sharp reduction in international aid since their takeover in 2021, is now facing an additional burden. Hardline policies, including bans on female education and employment, have led many donors to withdraw funding. The country is also dealing with the return of hundreds of thousands of Afghans deported by Iran and Pakistan.
The Sunday earthquake razed three villages in Kunar, with at least 610 deaths reported there, and caused substantial damage in Nangarhar province. In Ghazi Abad village, every home was reduced to rubble. Survivors described scenes of devastation, with residents digging through debris by hand and carrying the injured on makeshift stretchers. One survivor, Abdullah, said: 'There is not a single standing room visible in this village. The aftermath suggests that life here was ended in mere seconds.'
Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the health ministry, called for international aid, stating: 'We need it because here lots of people lost their lives and houses.' Military rescue teams have been deployed, conducting flights to evacuate the wounded and dead, but experts stress that the country's rescue and relief organisations are barely functional and require urgent outside support.
