A magnitude 6.0 earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan late on Sunday, August 31, killing hundreds of people and injuring many more.
The temblor struck in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, 16 miles east of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, near the border with Pakistan.
It had a depth of 5 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which recorded several powerful aftershocks.
According to the Afghan Red Crescent, at least 825 people are dead and 3,113 wounded, preliminary figures that are expected to rise as more victims are pulled from the rubble.
Whole villages were destroyed and over 1,000 homes lost.
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“Roads have been blocked by rocks, cutting off villages and hampering rescue operations.”
International aid group Save The Children said its local teams have rushed to the worst-affected areas in Kunar province, and it called for immediate funding to help children and their families.
“The earthquake came without warning in the middle of the night,” said Samira Sayed Rahman, advocacy director at Save the Children Afghanistan, in a statement.
“Children and their families were fast asleep in their homes—homes that are not built to withstand tremors of this magnitude. Aftershocks are continuing, causing terror for children and heightening the risk of further damage and casualties.
“Roads have been blocked by rocks, cutting off villages and hampering rescue operations.
“Children and their families need urgent support—with the likely destruction of so many homes, they will need food, clean water, shelter and essential household items.
“The true scale of the devastation is still emerging, but we know that children are always the most vulnerable in the aftermath of a disaster.
“We urgently call on the international community to step up with immediate funding and coordinated support to ensure life-saving assistance reaches children and families without delay.”
Afghan Red Crescent on the ground, death toll rises
The Afghan Red Crescent remains on the ground helping to coordinate rescue and recovery efforts.
The group issued updated estimates on the toll of dead and wounded.
At least 825 people had died, 3,113 were wounded, and over 1,000 homes were destroyed.
Pope Leo shares condolences to victims of Afghanistan earthquake
Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to those affected by the Afghanistan earthquake, the Vatican’s news service said, writing that he is “deeply saddened by the significant loss of life”.
The pontiff offered his prayers and said he entrusted “all affected by this disaster to the providence of the Almighty,” and expressed “his heartfelt solidarity in particular with those who mourn the loss of loved ones and with the emergency personnel and civil authorities involved in rescue and recovery efforts.”
UN’s Filippo Grandi calls for donors to step up
UN Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi posted to X:
“A major earthquake has caused many casualties in Afghanistan. This adds death and destruction to other challenges including drought and the forced return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries. Hopefully the donor community will not hesitate to support relief efforts.”
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian reacts to Afghanistan earthquake
President Masoud Pezeshkian shared his condolences with the people of Afghanistan after the devastating earthquake, calling it a “friendly and brotherly nation,” state media reported.
Pezeshkian said Iran is willing to deliver humanitarian aid and carry out relief operations, the Islamic Republic News Agency said, and he hoped the situation would quickly return to normal in the affected areas.
Afghanistan earthquake: Today’s latest death toll, injured figures
A spokesman for the Afghan government gave the following figures for each province as the latest update on deaths and injuries after the earthquake.
- Kunar:
- Dead: 800
- Injured: 2,500
- Locations: Nurgal (Dara Mazar), Shokai, Watapur, Manogai, Chapa Dara, and other areas
- Nangarhar:
- Dead: 12
- Injured: 355
- Location: Darah Noor District
- Laghman:
- Dead: 12
- Injured: 58
- Location: Alingar District
- Nuristan:
- In Nurgaram District, 2 people were injured, and several houses were destroyed.
- Panjsher:
- In Abshar District, 2 houses were damaged, but there were no casualties.
Afghan MOD shares video footage of rescue operations
The Afghan Ministry of Defense shared footage on social media of its choppers transporting victims of the deadly earthquake.
د هیواد په ختیځو ولایتونو کې د تېرې شپې زلزله ځپلو هیوادوالو ته د ملي اسلامي اردو د ژغورنې ټیمونه رسېدلې او په خدمت بوخت دي.
ـــــــــــــ
تیم کمک ونجات اردوی اسلامی ملی به ولایت های شرقی کشور رسیده ومشغول کمک رسانی به هموطنان آسیبدیده خود از زلزله دیشب هستند.#وزارت_دفاع_ملی pic.twitter.com/Vy3qMVwGmi— د ملي دفاع وزارت – وزارت دفاع ملی (@MoDAfghanistan2) September 1, 2025
د هیواد په ختیځو ولایتونو کې د تېرې شپې زلزله ځپلو هیوادوالو ته د ملي اسلامي اردو د ژغورنې ټیمونه او هوایي ځواکونه او د ختیځ زون ۲۰۱ خالد بن ولید قول اردو ټول منسوبین په خدمت بوخت دي او له خاورو لاندې هیوادوال راباسي… pic.twitter.com/nDlo0hqtss
— د ملي دفاع وزارت – وزارت دفاع ملی (@MoDAfghanistan2) September 1, 2025
China promises to help after Afghanistan earthquake
“China mourns for the lives lost in the earthquake in Afghanistan and our hearts go out to the bereaved families and the injured,” said a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry.
“We believe that under the leadership of the Afghan government, the Afghan people will recover and rebuild from the disaster. China will provide help in light of Afghanistan’s needs.”
Afghans describe collapse of homes: “Children are under the rubble”
Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are of poor construction.
One resident in Nurgal district, one of the worst-affected areas in Kunar, told The Associated Press that nearly the entire village was destroyed.
“Children are under the rubble. The elderly are under the rubble. Young people are under the rubble,” said the villager, who did not give his name.
“We need help here,” he pleaded. “We need people to come here and join us. Let us pull out the people who are buried. There is no one who can come and remove dead bodies from under the rubble.”
One survivor described seeing homes collapse before his eyes and people screaming for help.
Sadiqullah, who lives in the Maza Dara area of Nurgal, said he was woken by a deep boom that sounded like a big storm approaching. Like many Afghans, he uses only one name.
He ran to where his children were sleeping and rescued three of them. He was about to return to grab the rest of his family when the room fell on top of him.
“I was half-buried and unable to get out,” he told The Associated Press by phone from Nangarhar Hospital.
“My wife and two sons are dead and my father is injured and in hospital with me. We were trapped for three to four hours until people from other areas arrived and pulled me out.”
It felt like the whole mountain was shaking, he said.
This post uses reporting by The Associated Press.
India’s Modi, Pakistan’s Sharif react to the Afghanistan earthquake
Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the earthquake in Afghanistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this difficult hour, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands ready to provide all possible humanitarian aid and relief to those…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2025
Deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, which shook Kabul & was also felt in various parts of Pakistan, including Islamabad.
With reports confirming hundreds of precious human lives lost & villages destroyed, our hearts go out to the victims and…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 1, 2025
Death toll latest: Afghanistan earthquake claims at least 800 lives
Mawlawi Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said the death toll has risen to at least 800 as a result of the earthquake, with 2,500 other injured, state-run Afghanistan Radio reported.
Those numbers are preliminary, he added, and could rise. Rescue operations are ongoing.
Images: Aftermath of eastern Afghanistan earthquake
Images published by Afghan state media outlets show some of the aftermath of the earthquake.
Bakhtar News Agency
Radio Afghanistan
UN Secretary-General António Guterres: Our team will spare no effort to assist
I stand in full solidarity with the people of Afghanistan after the devastating earthquake that hit the country earlier today.
I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.
The @UN team in Afghanistan is mobilized…
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 1, 2025
Afghanistan Cricket Board reacts
Cricket is a big sport in Afghanistan, and the country’s cricket board has reacted to the devastating earthquake in a statement shared on Facebook. The statement, translated to English from Pashto, said:
“The leadership of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, along with all players and staff, expresses deep sorrow over the loss of life and injuries caused by the devastating earthquake in the eastern provinces, particularly in Kunar Province. We share in the grief of all our fellow countrymen during this difficult time.
“Unfortunately, many of our compatriots have lost their lives or been injured in this tragic incident, and it is truly a great calamity. The Board stands in solidarity with the bereaved families of Kunar and all the eastern provinces and extends its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to everyone affected.
“The Afghanistan Cricket Board calls upon all national investors, businessmen, and wealthy individuals to assist the affected families of Kunar and the eastern provinces in these difficult circumstances, considering it a shared responsibility.
“May the Almighty protect our country and people from all kinds of tragedies and misfortunes. Amen.”
India shares condolences, pledges help for Afghanistan earthquake victims
Indian external affairs minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reacted to the earthquake in a post on X: “The devastating earthquake in Kunar Province of Afghanistan is a matter of deep concern. Express our support and solidarity to the Afghan people as they respond to it.
“India will extend assistance in this hour of need. Our condolences to the families of the victims. And our prayers for early recovery of the injured.”
The devastating earthquake in Kunar Province of Afghanistan is a matter of deep concern. Express our support and solidarity to the Afghan people as they respond to it.
India will extend assistance in this hour of need. Our condolences to the families of the victims. And our…
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 1, 2025
UN reacts to Afghanistan earthquake, has teams on the ground
The UN in Afghanistan is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the eastern region & claimed hundreds of lives, injuring many more. Our teams are on the ground, delivering emergency assistance & lifesaving support. Our thoughts are with the affected communities pic.twitter.com/rCE6b3WzSU
— UN Afghanistan (@unafghanistan) September 1, 2025
Earthquake is catastrophe for resource-poor Afghanistan under Taliban rule
The disaster underscores Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural catastrophes, compounding existing humanitarian challenges.
The Afghan Red Crescent confirmed that the quake caused “both human casualties and significant financial losses to local communities.”
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan added that “hundreds of lives” had been lost, with teams mobilized to deliver emergency assistance and life-saving support.
The country under Taliban Islamic rule continues to grapple with limited resources, economic sanctions, and reduced international aid.
Earthquakes are not uncommon in Afghanistan, but the scale of destruction makes each event catastrophic for local communities already facing hardship.
The quake comes less than a year after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Herat province in October 2023.
That disaster killed more than 1,400 people, according to the World Health Organization, though Taliban officials placed the death toll at more than 4,000.