The death toll from a devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has reached at least 1,124 people, with more than 3,200 injured, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society. More than 8,000 homes have been destroyed, leaving thousands of families trapped under rubble as rescue efforts continue.
The magnitude-6 earthquake struck at midnight on Sunday near the Pakistan border, with Kunar province bearing the brunt of the devastation. The mountainous terrain and challenging conditions are hampering rescue operations as emergency teams race against time to reach survivors.
Worst-hit areas identified
The Nurgal district has emerged as the worst-affected area, with entire villages reported to have collapsed. According to The Guardian, secondary disasters including landslides and flooding are further complicating rescue efforts in the remote region.
Rescue teams are working around the clock to pull survivors from the debris, though the death toll is expected to continue rising as more bodies are recovered. The scale of destruction has overwhelmed local emergency services in one of Afghanistan's most seismically active regions.
Massive humanitarian crisis
The earthquake has created a major humanitarian emergency, with thousands of families left homeless in the mountainous border region. Afghanistan's challenging terrain and limited infrastructure are making it difficult for aid agencies to reach the most affected communities.
The Taliban administration is coordinating the disaster response, though the remote location of many affected villages continues to pose significant logistical challenges. Emergency shelters and medical assistance are urgently needed as more survivors are pulled from the wreckage.
Sources used: "Afghan Red Crescent Society", "The Guardian" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
