Afghanistan Earthquake: Tragedy as 800 People Killed, Video Goes Viral
- A devastating earthquake destroyed numerous villages in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 800 people and injuring more than 2,500
- The 6.0 magnitude quake late Sunday, August 31, hit a series of towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighbouring Nangahar province
- Footage showed people frantically digging through rubble with their hands, searching for loved ones in the dead of night
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Jalalabad, Afghanistan - A powerful earthquake that hit eastern Afghanistan has left more than 800 people dead and injured about 2,500.
As reported by Al Jazeera, the magnitude 6 earthquake hit four provinces in eastern Afghanistan around midnight on Sunday, August 31, with the rugged, mountainous region of Kunar the worst affected, triggering landslides and flooding.
Source: Twitter
Earthquake jolts Afghanistan
The earthquake was shallow, taking place close to the Earth’s surface, which is known to cause greater destruction. Several aftershocks were reported throughout the night and into Monday morning, September 1, which could even be felt in the capital, Kabul, more than 100 miles away, CNN noted.
Families faced agonising delays while taking injured relatives to a nearby hospital for treatment.
A local official said:
“Even to carry the injured to the hospital was difficult because roads are unpaved and it was difficult to drive."
Sadiqullah, who lives in the Maza Dara area of Nurgal, said he was woken up by a deep boom that sounded like a big storm approaching.
He said he ran to where his children were sleeping and rescued three of them. He was about to return to grab the rest of his family when the roof fell on top of him.
Sadiqullah was quoted as saying by The Associated Press from Nangarhar Regional Hospital:
“I was half-buried and unable to get out.
“My wife and two sons are dead and my father is injured and in hospital with me. We were trapped for three to four hours until people from other areas arrived and pulled me out.”
It felt like the whole mountain was shaking, he said.
The earthquake comes at a time when more than a million refugees from Iran and Pakistan have been sent back to the country, which is facing an international aid-cut.
Afghanistan is prone to deadly earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
A series of earthquakes in the country’s west killed more than 1,000 people in 2024.
Reacting to the latest disaster, the United Nations (UN) in Afghanistan wrote on its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, September 1:
"The UN in Afghanistan is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the eastern region & claimed hundreds of lives, injuring many more. Our teams are on the ground, delivering emergency assistance & lifesaving support. Our thoughts are with the affected communities."
In the same vein, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.
He tweeted:
"I stand in full solidarity with the people of Afghanistan after the devastating earthquake that hit the country earlier today.
"I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.
"The @UN team in Afghanistan is mobilized and will spare no effort to assist those in need in the affected areas."
Videos of the Afghanistan earthquake can be viewed below:
Source: Twitter
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Earthquake hits China
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that more than 14,000 rescue workers arrived in Tibet to continue the search for survivors after a strong earthquake killed at least 126 people in a remote part of western China.
More than 400 people were rescued since the quake struck some 50 miles from the base of Mount Everest, destroying thousands of homes.
Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing arrived at the scene of the incident to oversee the operation, which is being hampered by winter temperatures.
Source: Legit.ng
