A powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border late on 31 August 2025, with its epicentre in Kuz Kunar District of Kunar province and a shallow depth of about 8–10 km. The disaster has left at least 800 people dead and more than 2,800 injured, with most casualties reported in Kunar and some in Nangarhar, while many villages were completely destroyed.
Landslides and blocked roads have hampered rescue efforts, though helicopters have evacuated hundreds of victims, with many flights transporting the wounded and deceased to hospitals. The region has also experienced aftershocks, including two of magnitude 5.2, further complicating recovery. Local volunteers and government forces have joined rescue operations, while the UN, Iran, and China have pledged humanitarian assistance.
The disaster underscores Afghanistan’s vulnerability from fragile housing, mountainous terrain, and poor infrastructure, making it one of the deadliest quakes since Herat 2023 and Paktika 2022.
