Tue Sep 02 06:58:32 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A devastating magnitude 6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing over 1,120 and injuring over 3,250, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society. The earthquake flattened villages and destroyed thousands of homes, particularly in remote, mountainous areas. Rescue efforts are hampered by difficult terrain, damaged roads, and limited access to affected communities. Aid organizations face challenges in delivering assistance, and the death toll is expected to rise as rescuers reach more isolated villages. Afghanistan’s fragile health system is overwhelmed, increasing dependence on external aid.

**News Article:**

**Afghanistan Earthquake: Death Toll Exceeds 1,120, Rescue Efforts Hampered by Terrain**

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The death toll from Sunday’s magnitude 6 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has climbed above 1,120, with over 3,250 injured, the Afghan Red Crescent Society reports. The shallow quake devastated the Kunar region, flattening villages and destroying an estimated 8,000 homes, primarily in remote, mountainous areas.

“We cannot accurately predict how many bodies might still be trapped under the rubble,” said Ehsanullah Ehsan, the provincial head of disaster management. He added that efforts are underway to reach more of the region’s mountainous areas and distribute aid to affected families.

Rescue efforts are severely hindered by the difficult terrain and damaged roads, making it challenging for aid organizations to reach isolated communities along the Pakistani border. Gaining vehicle access on the narrow mountain roads has been a major obstacle for relief work, according to Ehsan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the destruction of roads and the remote location of many villages “severely impede the delivery of aid.” Homa Nader of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Afghanistan stated that rescue efforts have become “nearly impossible” due to the destruction of roads, adding that the death toll is “absolutely likely” to increase as rescuers gain access to more remote villages.

Afghanistan’s health system, already fragile, is overwhelmed, creating a reliance on external actors for assistance. The country is prone to earthquakes due to its location at the meeting point of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The last deadliest earthquake took place in October 2023, which killed more than 2,000 people in Herat province.

Aid organizations are struggling to provide essential supplies and medical care to those affected, and the full extent of the damage remains unclear.

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