Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 1,124, Over 3,200 Injured

Kabul – The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan has risen to 1,124, with at least 3,251 others injured, the Afghan Red Crescent Society said on Tuesday.

More than 8,000 homes, mostly in Kunar province, were either destroyed or severely damaged, according to Juma Khan Nayeel, head of information and publication at the Afghan Red Crescent Society. Rescue operations are still underway to pull survivors from the rubble, and officials warned that casualty figures could rise further.

The earthquake struck at 11:47 p.m. local time on August 31, with its epicenter located 27 km northeast of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, at a depth of eight kilometers.

India has expressed condolences and pledged humanitarian assistance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives” and assured that India stood ready to provide aid. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar echoed the sentiment, calling the disaster “a matter of deep concern” and affirming India’s solidarity with the Afghan people.

Jaishankar also held a telephonic conversation with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, conveying condolences and confirming that India had already delivered 1,000 family tents to Kabul. Additionally, 15 tonnes of food supplies are being transported from Kabul to Kunar, with further relief materials to follow. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the conversation, thanking India for its timely support.

Rescue teams continue to face challenges in reaching remote areas due to difficult terrain and poor communication infrastructure. The mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan is particularly prone to earthquakes and landslides, as the country lies on a major fault line between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

With inputs from IANS