A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan recently, with its epicentre in Kuz Kunar District, Nangarhar Province, near the border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
The quake’s shallow depth (approximately 8 km) and violent intensity (Modified Mercalli intensity IX in the central zone) triggered severe destruction across multiple provinces, including Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan, and Panjshir.
According to Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, as of September 2, 2025, the confirmed death toll has climbed to 1,411, with 3,124 injured and at least 5,400 homes destroyed. Also, more than 3,500 injuries and “thousands” feared buried under rubble have been reported.
READ ALSO: Tsunami Disrupts Pacific Trade Routes
Rescue efforts are significantly hampered by landslides, blocked roads, and inaccessible mountainous terrain, all aggravated by the recent rains. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies warn of a further rise in casualty figures and highlight the urgency for aid, as local response capacity remains limited.
Appeals for international humanitarian assistance have been issued. Regional neighbours such as Iran, Pakistan, and China have offered aid; additionally, the UK has pledged aid through non-governmental channels to avoid legitimising the Taliban regime. Aid agencies, including the World Food Programme, warn of an impending crisis as funding cuts—particularly from the U.S.—continue to undermine relief operations. Sudan Landslide in Darfur.
In a related development, a catastrophic landslide struck the Tarasin village in the Marrah Mountains of Central Darfur on August 31, 2025, following days of intense rainfall. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) reported that the village was entirely destroyed, with a preliminary death toll exceeding 1,000 and only one known survivor.
The United Nations’ deputy humanitarian coordinator for Sudan characterised the casualty figures as preliminary, noting that access to the remote site is extremely difficult, hindered by poor roads, seasonal flooding, and ongoing civil conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces.
Aid operations are further impeded by the fact that large parts of Darfur are under rebel control, making it tough for humanitarian agencies to reach survivors or recover bodies. Humanitarian groups warn that this landslide ranks among the deadliest disasters in recent Sudanese history, compounding the nation’s existing crises of famine, displacement, and war-related disruptions.
