Kabul, Sept 3: The death toll from a major earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has passed 1,400, a Taliban government spokesman said Tuesday.More than 3,000 people are injured, Zabihullah Mujahid said on social platform X.
The strong 6.0 magnitude quake in mountainous regions struck late Sunday when people were asleep, destroying homes and levelling entire villages.
The Taliban-led government has appealed for international assistance, stressing the urgent need for food, medical aid, and temporary shelter. “Our priority is to rescue those still trapped and provide shelter for those who have lost everything,” a Taliban spokesperson said, calling for global support.
The United Nations has begun mobilizing relief efforts, preparing hot meals, blankets, and temporary shelters for displaced families. Meanwhile, aid pledges are coming in from across the globe. The United Kingdom announced £1 million in relief funding, emphasizing that the funds would be routed through humanitarian partners and not directly to the Taliban.
India has already delivered 1,000 family tents to Kabul and is transporting 15 tonnes of food supplies to Kunar province. Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said more aid would follow, reiterating India’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan in its time of crisis. “We wish early recovery for the injured. India stands by Afghanistan at this difficult time,” he posted on X.
Reports indicate that the tremors were felt in Kabul and as far away as Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, shaking buildings and prompting panic.
With search-and-rescue teams working against the clock, the full scale of the devastation is expected to emerge only in the coming days.