Death toll from Afghanistan earthquake rises to more than 2,200

Thursday 04 September 2025 - 16:00

By: Sahili Aya

Death toll from Afghanistan earthquake rises to more than 2,200

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday has risen to more than 2,200, according to updated figures released Thursday by Taliban authorities. It is now considered the deadliest quake in the country’s recent history.

The 6.0-magnitude tremor devastated the mountainous province of Kunar, where the majority of victims were reported. Nearly 4,000 people have been injured, and more than 7,000 homes have been destroyed across Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces. Landslides and heavy rains continue to hamper rescue efforts, while aftershocks have fueled fear among residents.

Thousands of families, left homeless and exposed to rain, are struggling to survive without adequate shelter, food, or medical care. “We urgently need tents, water, food, and medicine,” said Zahir Khan Safi, a 48-year-old farmer in the destroyed village of Mazar Dara, where survivors camp out in fields.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the chances of finding survivors are diminishing rapidly and that the risk of epidemics is rising. The UN has allocated $5 million in emergency aid, while the WHO has launched a $4 million appeal to respond to what it calls “immense” needs.

Aid organizations stress that the disaster comes at a time of reduced international assistance to Afghanistan, which has already faced devastating earthquakes in 2022 and 2023. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said the tragedy should serve as a reminder that “Afghanistan cannot be left alone, as it faces one crisis after another.”

Meanwhile, neighboring Pakistan has accelerated the deportation of Afghan migrants, further complicating the humanitarian situation. According to the WHO, at least 270,000 recently returned Afghans have been directly affected by the quake. The UN has urged Pakistan to halt expulsions in light of the ongoing crisis.