On the night of September 1, 2025, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan's Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. This earthquake was so fierce that rocks began to break loose from the mountains, turning homes into rubble and shaking the entire region. According to the United Nations, at least 800 people perished, while the Taliban government estimates around 1100 deaths. Over 2500 people were injured, and thousands were left homeless.
Why Did the Earthquake Happen? Where Was the Epicenter?
Afghanistan is nestled in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates (the Earth's upper layers) frequently clash, making earthquakes common. This earthquake was centered in the Kuz Kunar district of Nangarhar province, about 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad city.
Read More: Over 812 Dead, 2800 Injured in Afghanistan Earthquake...
Source: aajtak
The earthquake's depth was only 8 kilometers, intensifying its destructiveness as energy rapidly reached the surface. The tremor occurred at night while most people were asleep. More than 17 aftershocks followed, ranging from 4.5 to 5.2 in magnitude.
Shocks were felt as far as Kabul and Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, although significant damage was not reported there. According to Al Jazeera, the earthquake’s nocturnal occurrence made it particularly deadly as people were inside their homes. Kunar, being a poorer and mountainous area, mostly hosts mud homes that collapse easily in quakes.
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Scene of Destruction: Villages Erased by Roaring Rocks
The earthquake primarily affected the Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. In Kunar, districts like Chawkay, Nurgal, Sawki, Wata Pur, Manogai, and Chapadara saw dozens of villages completely destroyed. Villages Wadir, Shomash, Masood, and Arit experienced casualties of up to 90% being killed or injured. In Andarlachak village alone, 79 deaths occurred, while dozens of bodies were found in Mazar-e-Dara.
Source: aajtak
According to a BBC report, rocks broke loose from the mountains causing landslides and obstructing roads. Houses quickly collapsed as they were built with mud and stone. In one village, one man lost his wife and four children when their entire home collapsed. Over 1,000 homes were destroyed.
In Nangarhar's Darai Nur district, 12 people died and 255 were injured, with 80 people injured in Laghman. Nuristan also experienced damage. Rescuers had to walk for hours as roads were blocked with debris. Strong winds and light rain made the situation even worse.
Read More: Hindu Kush Water System Break-Down...
Stories of Pain: Fear, Screams, and Silence
A freelanced journalist and human rights activist, Matiullah Shahab, in the village of Asadabad, Kunar, was awakened by the earthquake. He and his 23 family members ran from their bedrooms. They spent the night fearfully in the garden and then left by car in the morning, having to walk for 2 hours due to obstructed roads.
Source: aajtak
Upon reaching the village of Andarlachak, Shahab found children receiving treatment on the street. Two young children lay on stretchers, covered in injuries. Many children lay wrapped in white sheets. Seventy-nine people had perished there. Matiullah experienced 17 aftershocks, digging graves alongside locals. The villages were ruined, people's faces dusty and silent, like robots.
Ijzatullah Safi from the Sawki district recalled waking up to screams of children, women, and animals. It felt like apocalypse night. The winds were strong, it was raining, and children clung to him crying. Dust filled the air. The mobile network was down, and power was out. They relied on cell phone lights for salvation.
Read More: 'Himalayan Tsunami' in Plains...
Resident Mohammad Aslam from Ghaziabad village, returning from deportation in Pakistan, reported losing his father and his cousin's two children in the earthquake. At 12:30 am, their home collapsed. They lost five family members.
Source: aajtak
Atibar Gul lamented the entire villages being devastated. Each home bore 5-10 deaths or more. Everything lay buried under rubble. Liaqat Ali shared that his family lost seven members. They felt helpless.
Poverty, Lack of Access, and a Humanitarian Crisis
The area was already impoverished, featuring mud homes and poor roads. With Taliban rule and an economic crisis, aid delivery is problematic. Power outages, closed markets. Thousands homeless, needing tents. Women and children suffering most. The threat of epidemics looms large. The IRC said this could escalate into a bigger crisis than the 2023 earthquake.
Read More: Rain Devastation from Plains to the Himalayas...
Helicopter Assistance Underway
The Taliban government rapidly dispatched helicopters. Over 40 flights evacuated 420 injured to hospitals in Jalalabad and Asadabad. The Health Ministry dispatched 30 doctors and 800 kilograms of medication. The Red Cross and UN sent teams. Volunteers donated blood.
Source: aajtak
India sent 1000 tents and 15 tons of food, while China and Iran pledged assistance. The European Union and Japan are providing aid too. However, reaching mountainous regions remains challenging, requiring on-foot travel in many areas. The Taliban has called for international aid.
This earthquake exposes Afghanistan's vulnerabilities—poverty, fragile buildings, and lack of access. In 2023, thousands also perished in an earthquake, and yet, disaster struck again. Experts stress the need for robust buildings and a warning system.
