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Afghan earthquake death toll jumps to more than 2,200, say Taliban Afghan earthquake death toll jumps to more than 2,200, say Taliban
(about 20 hours later)
Aid agencies plead for funds as rough terrain hinders relief effort and 98% of buildings in one province are damagedAid agencies plead for funds as rough terrain hinders relief effort and 98% of buildings in one province are damaged
Hundreds more bodies have been recovered from houses in mountain villages destroyed by a major earthquake in Afghanistan early this week, pushing the death toll to more than 2,200, a Taliban government spokesperson said Thursday. The death toll from a major earthquake in Afghanistan this week has jumped to more than 2,200, just as another magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit the southeastern region of the country on Thursday night.
The shallow, magnitude-6.0 quake struck the mountainous and remote eastern part of the country late on Sunday, levelling villages and trapping people under rubble. Most of the casualties have been in Kunar province, where people typically live in wood and mud-brick houses along steep river valleys separated by high mountains. On Thursday, Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat confirmed that the death toll from Sunday’s earthquake had risen to 2,205 – up from previous estimates of 1,400 – making it one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the country in decades.
About 98% of the buildings in the province were damaged or destroyed, according to an assessment issued on Thursday by the charity Islamic Relief. Aid agencies said they were sorely in need of staff and supplies to tend to the region’s survivors. The shallow, magnitude-6.0 quake struck the mountainous and remote eastern part of the country around midnight on Sunday, levelling entire villages where residents were asleep and trapping people under rubble.
Fears rose after another earthquake, this time with a 6.2 magnitude, struck southeastern Afghanistan on Thursday night, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. It was not immediately clear how much further damage it has caused.
It was the third major quake to hit the country this week, after another 5.5 magnitude aftershock struck on Tuesday, causing panic and interrupting rescue efforts as more roads were cut off by rockfall.
Most of the casualties from Sunday’s earthquake have been in Kunar province, where most people typically live in wood and mud-brick houses along steep river valleys, separated by high mountains, which were highly vulnerable to the impact of the quake.
The death toll rose steeply on Thursday as rescue operatives managed to reach villages that had been completely cut off in the disaster and bodies continued to be pulled from debris. Fitrat said that search and rescue operations were still ongoing to recover the injured and dead.
About 98% of the buildings in the province were damaged or destroyed, according to an assessment issued on Thursday by the charity Islamic Relief.
The rough, steeply mountainous terrain has been hindering relief efforts. Taliban authorities have deployed helicopters and airdropped army commandos to help locate and rescue survivors. Aid workers reported walking for hours to reach villages cut off by landslides and rockfall.
Muhammad Israel said the quake unleashed a landslide that buried his home, livestock and belongings in Kunar. “All the rocks came down from the mountain,” he said. “I barely got my children out of there … The earthquake jolts are still happening. It is impossible to live there.”Muhammad Israel said the quake unleashed a landslide that buried his home, livestock and belongings in Kunar. “All the rocks came down from the mountain,” he said. “I barely got my children out of there … The earthquake jolts are still happening. It is impossible to live there.”
He was staying at a UN medical camp in Nurgal, one of the worst-affected districts. “The situation is also bad for us here, we don’t have shelter and are living under open skies,” he said.He was staying at a UN medical camp in Nurgal, one of the worst-affected districts. “The situation is also bad for us here, we don’t have shelter and are living under open skies,” he said.
Previous estimates said about 1,400 people were killed. The Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said on Thursday that the updated death toll was 2,205 and that search and rescue efforts were continuing. Rescue and relief efforts have also been impacted by a lack of international aid funding and resources flowing into the country. Since the Taliban seized back power in 2021 and began imposing hardline religious laws, making it difficult for NGOs and aid groups to function, there has been a steep drop in aid and support to Afghanistan.
“Tents have been set up for people, and the delivery of first aid and emergency supplies is ongoing,” he said. Aid agencies said they were urgently in need of staff and supplies to tend to the injured and to house tens of thousands who had been left homeless and without access to food or water. According to aid agencies, around 84,000 people have been affected so far.
The rough terrain is hindering relief efforts. Taliban authorities have deployed helicopters and airdropped army commandos to help survivors. Aid workers have reported walking for hours to reach villages cut off by landslides and rockfall. The Norwegian Refugee Council said it had fewer than 450 staff in Afghanistan, whereas it had 1,100 in 2023 when the last major quake struck the country. The council had only one warehouse remaining and no emergency stock.
Funding cuts are also having an impact on the response. The Norwegian Refugee Council said it had fewer than 450 staff in Afghanistan, whereas it had 1,100 in 2023 when the last major quake struck the country. The council had only one warehouse remaining and no emergency stock.
“We will need to purchase items once we get the funding but this will take potentially weeks and people are in need now,” said Maisam Shafiey, a communications and advocacy adviser for the council in Afghanistan. “We have only $100,000 available to support emergency response efforts. This leaves an immediate funding gap of $1.9m.”“We will need to purchase items once we get the funding but this will take potentially weeks and people are in need now,” said Maisam Shafiey, a communications and advocacy adviser for the council in Afghanistan. “We have only $100,000 available to support emergency response efforts. This leaves an immediate funding gap of $1.9m.”
Dr Shamshair Khan, who was tending to the injured at the UN camp in Nurgal, said his own condition had deteriorated after seeing the suffering of others. “Neither these medicines are enough nor these services,” he said. “These people need more medicine and tents. They need food and clean drinking water. They need more aid. These people are in great pain.” Shamshair Khan, a doctor tending to the injured at the UN camp in Nurgal, said supplies were already running out. “Neither these medicines are enough nor these services,” he said. “These people need more medicine and tents. They need food and clean drinking water. They need more aid. These people are in great pain.”
Before the earthquake, Afghanistan was already struggling with drought, a weak economy and the recent return of 2 million Afghans from neighbouring countries. The earthquake came as Afghanistan was already struggling with drought and a severe economic crisis that has left many struggling to survive. The withdrawal of USAID funding, after cuts by the Trump administration earlier this year, resulted in the closure of many hospitals and medical clinics.
The pressures on the country have also been exacerbated by the forced return of over 2 million Afghans from neighbouring Pakistan and Iran, many who have nowhere to live and work in Afghanistan.