The death toll from Afghanistan’s worst earthquake in years has climbed above 1,100, with thousands more injured, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society. The 6.0-magnitude quake struck around midnight on Monday, leaving widespread destruction across the country’s mountainous east.
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The Afghan Red Crescent Society reported at least 1,124 people dead, 3,251 injured, and more than 8,000 homes destroyed. Officials fear the numbers will rise as rescuers uncover more victims trapped under rubble. The United Nations coordinator in Afghanistan confirmed the death toll is expected to grow as teams reach remote areas (Reuters).
Worst-Hit Provinces
The eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar were hardest hit. Entire mud-and-brick villages collapsed, leaving families buried under debris. Ehsanullah Ehsan, the provincial head of disaster management in Kunar, said rescue efforts were first concentrated in four villages and will now expand to more remote mountain areas. “We cannot accurately predict how many bodies might still be trapped under the rubble,” Ehsan told local media.
Mountainous terrain and heavy weather have slowed rescue operations. Narrow, damaged roads blocked ambulances and aid trucks, forcing helicopters to bring in supplies and evacuate the wounded. Machinery is now being deployed to clear debris from mountain routes to speed up access, according to officials on the ground (ReliefWeb).
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