Powerful Earthquake Kills Hundreds in Eastern Afghanistan

Local Afghan media

A Powerful Earthquake Hits Eastern Afghanistan.

More than 600 people have been killed and around 1,000 others injured after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late on Sunday night, 31 August 2025, according to Afghan National Television (RTA).

Health officials in the Taliban administration in Kabul said efforts are under way to confirm the final death toll, warning that the number of casualties is likely to rise as rescue teams struggle to reach remote areas.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake, measuring 6.0 in magnitude, struck Nangarhar Province near the border with Pakistan at 19:17 GMT — just before midnight local time. The tremor was recorded at a shallow depth of 8 kilometres, increasing the risk of severe damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Local reports suggest that dozens of homes have collapsed, leaving families trapped beneath the rubble. Emergency services, already stretched thin, are being supported by community volunteers in the affected districts.

Afghanistan, which sits on several active fault lines, is prone to frequent earthquakes. However, the scale of Sunday night’s disaster has raised fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis in a country still reeling from years of conflict, economic hardship and natural disasters.



PUKMEDIA