A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan just after midnight on Sunday, causing one of the most fatal disasters in recent memory.
The earthquake, centered around Knar province near the border with Pakistan, occurred at a shallow depth of approximately 6-8 km.
According to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, authorities have confirmed that at least 1,411 deaths, more than 3,120 injuries and more than 5,400 homes have been destroyed in Kunar alone.
Red Crescent in Afghanistan reported low numbers of 1,124 deaths and 3,251 injured, with over 8,000 homes damaged or destroyed.
Rescue squads have reached a valley that is still inaccessible, and tolls are expected to climb.
Built of muddy and stone, the villages in isolated, isolated areas have been flattened and trapped residents under tiled rubs.
Rescuers face major challenges due to heavy rain, landslides and passing roads, forcing them to resort to helicopters and manual liquidation.
UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies are mobilized with emergency medical aid, shelters and water supplies, but funding constraints and weakened health infrastructure complicate the response.
The earthquake strikes amid the rise in Afghanistan. Following the Taliban’s 2021 acquisition, there was a stagnant economy and sharp cuts in foreign aid.