1 September 2025
More than 800 people have died after a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hits eastern Afghanistan, the UN’s humanitarian agency says.The quake struck at a shallow depth of 8km (5 miles) – which can be more destructive – and shook buildings from Kabul to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.
Najib Ahmad Amir, director of the seismology centre in Pakistan, says a network of stations monitoring seismic movements has recorded at least nine aftershocks since the deadly earthquake late on Sunday.
Amir said the aftershocks could continue for up to two days.
The death toll has risen to more than 800 people, and flooding from the past few weeks and landslides are hampering rescue efforts.
Afghanistan’s RTA broadcaster has interviewed several earthquake survivors now receiving medical treatment for their injuries.
Muhammad Azam, from a small village in Kunar province, said he lost his son, three daughters and several other relatives.
“When the earthquake struck, the roof collapsed,” he said. “Only two of us managed to escape.”
Another survivor described fleeing into the street as his house collapsed, while hearing his family trapped inside “begging to be rescued”.
“We first pulled the children out and then managed to bring the others from under the soil and rubble,” the man said. “In this disaster, many families lost half of their members.”
