Devastating Earthquake Strikes Eastern Afghanistan, Over 800 Dead
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has killed more than 800 people and destroyed entire villages, posing severe rescue challenges in remote mountain areas.
Massive Tremors Shake Eastern Afghanistan
Just before midnight, villagers in Kunar province were jolted awake by a 6.0 magnitude earthquake that claimed at least 800 lives, according to the UN. Although the epicenter lay 16 km from Asadabad, the entire village shook violently.
Local journalist and activist Matiullah Shahab recounts how his 23 relatives fled to the garden, fearing collapsing walls, and endured 17 aftershocks through the night.
Destruction and Casualties in Mountain Communities
In the remote settlement of Andarlachak, medics treated dozens of injured children on the streets, while volunteers dug mass graves for the 79 confirmed fatalities there. “I saw many bodies amid the rubble,” Shahab says.
Helicopters Lead Rescue Efforts Amid Blocked Roads
With roads blocked by landslides, the Taliban government has deployed helicopters to reach isolated villages. Volunteers rescued survivors from collapsed houses, including two women now hospitalized.
Survivors Struggle With Trauma and Basic Needs
Many residents now sleep outdoors, lacking tents, electricity, and mobile network coverage. In Sokai district, father of five Ezzatullah Safi describes a night of terror and clearing skies marred by dust and light rain.
“My children clung to me, terrified,” he recalls. Helicopters evacuated the injured to clinics via the main highway at dawn.
The earthquake not only claimed hundreds of lives but underscored the challenges of delivering timely aid to Afghanistan’s most remote regions.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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