Kabul - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Afghanistan, specifically the eastern part of the country near the border with Pakistan, was struck by a devastating earthquake on Sunday evening, killing hundreds of people and injuring more than 1,300, amid fears of a further increase in the death toll. Kunar province bore the brunt of the earthquake, with 610 deaths, 1,300 injuries, and "extensive" damage, according to the Ministry of Interior. In Nangarhar, 12 people were killed and 255 injured. There are fears that the death toll could rise significantly, given the difficult rescue conditions, given the earthquake's location in an inaccessible area.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, one of the last safety nets in a country severely affected by recent drastic cuts in international humanitarian aid, stated that it was "deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that killed hundreds." It added, "Our teams are on the ground providing emergency assistance."
Remote Areas
Given the remoteness and often inaccessibility of the affected areas, Taliban authorities have dispatched helicopters to the site to expedite rescue operations. Medical teams have also been dispatched from Kabul and the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. It is currently unclear how many are missing, nor how high the death toll could rise, according to Belgian media in Brussels on Monday morning.
Afghanistan is one of the countries most prone to devastating earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
Reuters reported, citing an Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman, that 622 people were killed in the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan. The earthquake left widespread destruction, and rescue teams continue their efforts to find survivors amid significant difficulties due to the rugged terrain.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 11:47 p.m. Sunday, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers northeast of the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province, at a depth of no more than 8 kilometers. Casualty Numbers
Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman had previously explained that "the number of victims and injured is high, but since the area is difficult to access, our teams are still on the ground."
The United Nations expressed its "deep sorrow over the devastating earthquake that struck the eastern region, killing hundreds and injuring many more."
In a statement on the X platform, it added: "Our teams are on the ground providing emergency aid and life-saving support."
Jalalabad is a busy commercial city due to its proximity to Pakistan and the presence of an important border crossing between the two countries. Its population is approximately 300,000, according to the municipality, but its urban areas are much larger.
Its buildings are predominantly low-rise, made of concrete and brick, while suburban homes are made of mud and wood, making them more vulnerable to earthquakes. Jalalabad is also known for agriculture, especially citrus fruits and rice, and the Kabul River runs through it. Afghanistan is regularly hit by devastating earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
According to the Brussels-based Euronews website, last year the country experienced a series of earthquakes in its west that killed more than 1,000 people, exposing the fragility of one of the world's poorest countries and the least able to cope with natural disasters.
On October 7, 2023, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck, followed by powerful aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated that at least 4,000 people were killed.