Homes crumbled and lives were upended in a moment as a severe earthquake tore through the night in Afghanistan. The impact was far-reaching in Eastern Afghanistan, with reports claiming that 600 people died in the tragedy, and 1,300 have survived.
The disaster is set to further strain the resources of the South Asian nation, already burdened by ongoing humanitarian crises
Gujarat will be vigilant, for historically, it has endured seismic upheavals. The cataclysm of 2001 in Kachchh, etched deep into the annals of India’s history, ranks as the third-largest and second most devastating earthquake the nation has witnessed within the last two hundred years.
The Delhi-NCR belt and Pakistan reportedly experienced mild shocks, but life wasn’t disrupted there.
According to reports, the US Geological Survey informed media outlets that the quake hit at 11:47 pm local time, with its epicentre 27 km northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. Homes were ravaged in Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi and Chapadare.
One village alone reported 30 deaths.
The quake hit a region with fragile infrastructure. Many homes are built from mud and stone and collapse easily.
In Kabul, health officials were scrambling to reach remote hamlets scattered across a region long plagued by quakes and floods.
Rescuers were frantically trying to locate survivors in the region bordering Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the midnight tremor, striking at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), had flattened homes built of mud and stone.
Afghanistan lies on a major seismic fault. The Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet here, making it one of Asia’s most earthquake-prone zones. The Hindu Kush mountains have a history of deadly quakes.
Earthquakes, with the strongest at magnitude 6.3 hit the country two years ago. It was the deadliest natural disaster in recent years. Agencies had reported at least 4,000 deaths, while the United Nations gave a lower toll of about 1,500.
In a statement on X, the UN said it was “delivering emergency assistance and lifesaving support.” “Our thoughts are with the affected communities,” the statement said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described it as “a matter of deep concern.” He said on social media, “India will extend assistance in this hour of need. Our condolences to the families of the victims. And our prayers for early recovery of the injured.”
According to the latest reports, landslides have blocked narrow mountain routes, making rescue efforts increasingly difficult. Officials from the Taliban-led administration have appealed to the international community for help.
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