The massive earthquake that struck Kunar province in Afghanistan last night has caused massive destruction. According to official information received so far, about 800 people have died while more than 2500 people are reported to be injured. The actual number of dead and injured may be much higher because many remote areas have not been contacted yet. The affected districts include Nurgal, Saukay, Watapur, Manogi and Chapa Dara, where a large number of houses and villages have been buried under rubble.
EQ of M: 6.3, On: 01/09/2025 00:47:41 IST, Lat: 34.50 N, Long: 70.81 E, Depth: 160 Km, Location: Afghanistan.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/O7V6fMS76w— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) August 31, 2025
Earthquake epicenter and intensity
The earthquake struck at midnight on Sunday and its epicenter was at a depth of 10 kilometers in the hills of Kunar province. This area is adjacent to Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), several tremors were felt after this, with an intensity ranging between 4 and 5.
“The number of dead and injured is high, but our teams are still on the spot as the area is remote,” said Sharafat Zaman, a spokesman for the health ministry.
- Initial reports put the number of deaths at 30 in just one village.
- Hundreds of people were injured and admitted to hospitals.
- Kaccha houses in several villages completely collapsed.
According to provincial information chief Najibullah Hanif, the number of injured is rising steadily as reports from remote areas are slowly coming in.
Relief and rescue operations
The earthquake-hit area is extremely remote and mountainous. There is a lack of roads and infrastructure, making relief operations difficult.
Emergency teams have been deployed in several districts.
The Red Cross and local voluntary organisations are trying to rescue people trapped under the rubble.
The injured are being admitted to hospitals with limited resources.
Seismic sensitivity of Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a highly vulnerable region in terms of earthquakes. The country is located on the Hindukush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
More than 1000 people were killed in earthquakes in western Afghanistan in 2023.
The fault line passing through Herat province is also active.
Dozens of small and big earthquakes occur here every year.
Threat of aftershocks
Experts believe that aftershocks can continue for several days. Shallow earthquakes cause more devastation on the surface. Most of the tremors this time were of shallow or intermediate depth. In such tremors, the intensity of ground shaking is high and buildings can easily collapse.
Situation in the affected areas
In many villages of Kunar province, the walls of houses collapsed and people were buried under the rubble. The communication system in the affected areas has also been badly affected.
There are only unpaved roads to reach the villages. Rescue teams have to pass through mountains and dangerous paths. Local people are also involved in relief work. Humanitarian crisis and need for international help Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world.
The health infrastructure is very weak and disaster management resources are limited. The United Nations and international relief agencies have expressed concern and have started preparations to send help.
- Medicines and food items are needed.
- People are being settled in temporary camps.
- Neighboring countries have also been appealed for help.
