A strong earthquake of at least 6.0 magnitude struck eastern Afghanistan late on Sunday night. This horrific act resulted in tragic loss of life, as well as hundreds of injured people. The tremor occurred at approximately 11:47 PM local time, with its epicenter located about 27 kilometers east-north-east of Jalalabad, the country’s fifth-largest city. The quake hit at a shallow depth of 8 km. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) deemed the shaking as extreme.
So far, the disaster has taken the lives of over 800 people, with more than 2,000 others reported injured. The quake’s strongest devastation hit the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar. As early reports trickled in, we learned that 30 people had been killed in one of those villages alone. The remote and mountainous terrain has complicated rescue efforts, as landslides have obstructed roads in Kunar province, compelling rescuers to utilize helicopters to access affected areas.
Search and Rescue Efforts
During rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, local villagers shared desperate cries for help. As one villager breathed a prayer for those still buried under rubble, saying,
“Children are under the rubble. The elderly are under the rubble. Young people are under the rubble.”
Rescue workers have been putting around-the-clock efforts into finding survivors and getting the injured to hospitals. Sadiqullah, a survivor of the quake, recounted his harrowing experience:
“I was half-buried and unable to get out.”
Rescuers face daunting obstacles in the region’s rugged landscape. Landslides have further complicated their work. Today, villagers are still calling for help, appealing to outsiders to support or join their efforts as they work to recover those still trapped. Another villager expressed desperation for assistance:
“We need people to come here and join us. Let us pull out the people who are buried. There is no one who can come and remove dead bodies from under the rubble.”
International Response
A spokesperson from Afghanistan’s foreign office stated,
“So far, no foreign governments have reached out to provide support for rescue or relief work.”
As they work to respond to and contain the crisis, localities are set up to fail even further. The lack of timely global support adds to the challenges they face. In deep contrast, the Afghan government has quickly mobilized all available resources to help those affected by the disaster.
Earthquakes regularly rattle the ancient hills of eastern Afghanistan. That’s particularly the case around the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. This region’s vulnerability was underscored by the frequent seismic activity in 2020 and 2021, underscoring the need for strong disaster preparedness and response systems.
The Road Ahead
While rescue operations still remain ongoing, officials are beginning to survey the damage in inundated communities. As with any humanitarian response, the immediate focus is on life-saving relief, including medical assistance for those who were injured in the 7.8 magnitude quake. The federal government and local agencies need to focus on the emerging needs resulting from this catastrophic occurrence. Simultaneously, they need to be looking at long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
