Over 800 dead, thousands injured and entire villages reduced to rubble as major earthquake rocks Afghanistan

Afghanistan earthquake collage

The quake initially hit shortly after 7pm on Sunday evening UK time

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REUTERS/USGS/TALIBAN

James Saunders

By James Saunders


Published: 01/09/2025

- 05:55

Updated: 01/09/2025

- 09:42

Taliban recovery teams are scrambling to reach the mountainous area hit by the quake

More than 800 people have been killed, thousands more have been injured and entire villages have been reduced to rubble after a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Afghanistan.

The quake, which initially hit shortly after 7pm on Sunday evening UK time, has seen its estimated death toll rise over the night into Monday morning.


With the Taliban in charge of the country, accurate casualty figures are few and far between - while the region struck hardest is isolated and mountainous.

In the latest update, a spokesman for the Taliban government said more than 800 people had been killed and at least 2,800 were injured.

Images and videos from Afghanistan show rescuers boarding helicopters from airfields, as well as people in stretchers being brought to hospitals.

The earthquake has levelled basic mud and stone homes in the area, which sits just over the border from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Workers at airfield in Afghanistan

Images and videos from Afghanistan show workers boarding helicopters from airfields and bringing quake victims to hospitals

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REUTERS

People carry an earthquake victim on a stretcher to an ambulance at an airport in Jalalabad, Afghanistan

PICTURED: People carry an earthquake victim on a stretcher to an ambulance at an airport in Jalalabad, Afghanistan

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REUTERS

The Pakistani Foreign Office, meanwhile, hit out at how "no foreign governments have reached out to provide support for rescue or relief work."

According to earlier reports, some 330 people were injured between the Afghan provinces of Laghman and Nangarhar.

"The number of casualties and injuries is high, but since the area is difficult to access, our teams are still on site," Taliban Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said.

He continued: "Unconfirmed reports indicate that nearly 30 people from one village have been killed, but so far there are no exact figures regarding the casualties.

Three villages were "completely destroyed and suffered heavy damage".

"Some of the injured have been evacuated, and victims trapped under collapsed houses have been recovered," Mr Zaman said, and said search and rescue teams are ongoing.

"The numbers of the injured and the dead are likely higher, but since the area has limited access and communication, our teams are still on the ground. Once accurate figures are collected, God willing, we will share them with you," he said.

The Taliban has since pleaded with international aid organisations to help the rescue effort.

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