Afghanistan’s earthquake death toll passed 1,400 on Tuesday with more than 3,000 injured, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X, after a magnitude-6.0 shock overnight Sunday flattened villages in multiple eastern provinces.
The quake hit at a shallow depth of 8–10 km, amplifying surface shaking, with the epicentre about 27 km from Jalalabad. Tremors were felt as far as Kabul and Pakistan’s Islamabad.
“It’s a race against time,” said Indrika Ratwatte, the UN resident coordinator for Afghanistan, warning of an “exponential” rise in casualties as rescuers push deeper into cut-off valleys. He urged donors not to “forget the people of Afghanistan,” citing multiple overlapping crises that have saturated community resilience.
Funding gaps are constraining the medical response. More than 420 health facilities have closed or are suspended due to a “massive reduction” in financing, including 80 in the eastern region at the quake’s heart, said Kate Carey of the UN’s coordination office. Remaining hospitals are overwhelmed, short on supplies and staff, and farther from affected populations just as the 24–72 hour trauma window closes.
The Taliban said a special committee is coordinating evacuations, food, and essential supplies, and has appealed for international assistance from governments and the humanitarian sector. Helicopters continue to airlift the wounded where roads remain impassable; earlier tallies cited dozens of sorties as military and medical teams fanned out to remote hamlets.
The Afghan Red Crescent also deployed alongside medical teams, while UN agencies said teams are on the ground delivering “life-saving support,” with UNICEF prioritizing health, child protection, water, and sanitation.
Regional partners signaled assistance. India said it would deliver 1,000 family tents to Kabul and move 15 tonnes of food to Kunar, with more consignments beginning Tuesday, while Pakistan expressed readiness to provide “all possible support.” Japan said it stands ready to assist and the EU said humanitarian partners remain “actively on the ground.”
Information for this story was found via BBC, USA Today, Reuters, NBC, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
