Afghanistan has been devastated by a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 800 people and injured more than 2,800. The disaster struck late Sunday near Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province, close to the Pakistan border, leveling villages and leaving widespread destruction.
Already grappling with food shortages and foreign aid cuts, the Taliban government has urgently appealed for international assistance to cope with the mounting crisis.
Shallow Quake Near Jalalabad Razes Villages, Displaces Thousands Across Multiple Provinces
The quake’s epicenter was about 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad in a seismically active mountainous area. With a shallow depth of just 8 kilometers, the earthquake’s force was particularly destructive. It devastated Kunar province, razing three villages, and caused significant damage in Laghman, Nuristan, and Panjshir.
Tremors were felt across neighboring Pakistan, and multiple aftershocks, including one of 5.2 magnitude, further shook the region. This marks the third major earthquake in Afghanistan since 2021.
Nearly half a million people likely experienced strong shaking, and many poorly built homes collapsed instantly. Survivors described harrowing scenes of searching for family members under rubble with little outside help.
A resident of Kunar recounted losing his wife and children, while people in Kabul, over 100 miles away, fled their homes in panic. Videos showed villagers digging with bare hands and shovels to rescue the trapped, while helicopters evacuated the severely injured.
Funding Cuts And Limited Aid Worsen Afghanistan’s Struggle After Devastating Earthquake
Rescue operations are severely hampered by dwindling humanitarian aid. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the country has lost billions in international funding. The US halted $1.7 billion in contracts, and European nations followed with similar cuts, reducing annual aid from $3.8 billion in 2022 to just $767 million in 2025.
This funding gap has crippled agencies like the World Food Programme, which can no longer airlift supplies to remote regions. Humanitarian groups warn that the quake’s toll could exceed that of the deadly 2023 earthquake that killed over 2,000 people.
The Taliban have issued urgent appeals for global assistance, stressing the scale of destruction and loss of life. International responses have been modest so far: the UK pledged £1 million in emergency funds, India sent tents and food aid, and China expressed readiness to provide relief according to Afghanistan’s needs.
However, the United States has yet to announce any concrete support beyond offering condolences, raising concerns that limited aid will worsen the humanitarian crisis.
The earthquake has added yet another layer of suffering to a country already battered by war, drought, poverty, and political isolation. With strained resources, damaged infrastructure, and shrinking international aid, Afghanistan faces monumental challenges in responding to this disaster.
Aid workers warn that without urgent and substantial international support, the scale of human suffering could escalate dramatically in the coming weeks, leaving tens of thousands without shelter, food, or medical care.
