Villages wiped out in Afghanistan as earthquake kills more than 620 people
In this photo released by the Ministry of Public Health, Afghans donate blood for victims of an earthquake that killed hundreds and destroyed numerous villages in eastern Afghanistan, at Nangarhar Regional Hospital in Nangarhar, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025 (Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health)
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late on Sunday, killing at least 620 people and injuring over 1,300, according to a Taliban government spokesman.
The shallow quake, centred near Jalalabad in Kunar province, caused extensive damage, destroying numerous villages and many homes, particularly in remote, mountainous areas.
Footage showed residents frantically digging through rubble for loved ones, with one villager from Nurgal district reporting almost the entire village had collapsed.
Rescue operations are underway, with medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar, and Kabul deployed, though communications have been worsened by the quake.
The Taliban government has pledged to utilise all available resources for rescue efforts, with casualty figures expected to rise as more reports come in.