Devastating Earthquake Rocks Afghanistan: A Call for Global Solidarity
On September 1, 2025, a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, claiming at least 622 lives and injuring over 1,300 people, according to Taliban authorities. Centered 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, the quake hit at a shallow depth of 8 kilometers, amplifying its destructive impact.
The tremor, which struck just before midnight, flattened villages, buried residents under rubble, and triggered landslides that hampered rescue efforts in the mountainous Kunar province. This disaster follows a series of deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan, including a 6.3-magnitude quake in October 2023 that killed over 2,000 people in Herat province, marking it as one of the deadliest in recent decades.
The shallow depth of the recent quake caused significant damage to poorly constructed homes, with entire villages reduced to rubble. Rescue operations, involving Taliban soldiers and civilians, faced challenges due to the region’s rugged terrain and limited infrastructure. The state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported that relief teams struggled to reach remote communities, exacerbating the crisis. Social media footage showed residents fleeing collapsing buildings, with many too afraid to return indoors due to aftershocks, including a 5.2-magnitude tremor hours later.
Afghanistan’s vulnerability to seismic activity stems from its location near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, particularly in the Hindu Kush region. The country has endured multiple devastating quakes in recent years, including a 2022 earthquake in Paktika and Khost provinces that killed over 1,000. Compounding the tragedy, Afghanistan faces a dire humanitarian crisis, with 92% of households experiencing food insecurity and an economy crippled by sanctions and aid cuts since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover.
The World Food Programme and Red Cross have faced funding shortages, forcing reductions in life-saving assistance, including food aid for 10 million people and support for 25 hospitals, including Herat Regional Hospital.
The United Nations and NGOs like the Afghan Red Crescent Society are mobilizing aid, providing tents, blankets, and medical supplies, but the scale of need is overwhelming. With winter approaching, displaced families face harsh conditions, sleeping in makeshift shelters or open fields. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates 43,000 people were directly affected by the October 2023 quakes, with similar impacts likely from this latest disaster. Women and children, who made up over 90% of fatalities in the 2023 Herat quake, remain particularly vulnerable, with limited access to healthcare and safe shelter.
The international community faces a critical moment to respond. Businesses, philanthropists, and governments must step up to support recovery efforts. Donations to organizations like the Afghan Red Crescent and UN agencies can provide immediate relief, while long-term investments in resilient infrastructure and healthcare systems are essential to mitigate future disasters. Afghanistan’s economic isolation, coupled with recurrent natural disasters, demands innovative solutions—perhaps through public-private partnerships or technology-driven aid delivery—to rebuild communities and restore hope.
As Afghanistan grapples with this tragedy, global solidarity is not just a moral imperative but a business opportunity to foster stability in a region critical to geopolitical and economic interests. Supporting Afghanistan’s recovery can pave the way for sustainable development, benefiting both local communities and international stakeholders committed to a resilient future.
FAQ: September 2025 Afghanistan Earthquake
Q1. When did the recent earthquake in Afghanistan occur?
The earthquake struck on September 1, 2025, just before midnight local time.
Q2. What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
The tremor registered a 6.0 magnitude on the Richter scale.
Q3. Where was the epicenter of the earthquake?
The epicenter was located 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, near the Pakistan border.
Q4. How deep was the earthquake?
It occurred at a shallow depth of 8 kilometers, which intensified the damage.
Q5. How many people were affected or injured?
At least 622 people were killed and over 1,300 were injured, according to Taliban authorities.
Q6. Which areas were the most affected?
The eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar suffered the most, with villages flattened, landslides triggered, and rescue operations hampered.
Q7. How does Afghanistan’s location affect earthquake risk?
Afghanistan lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, especially in the Hindu Kush region, making it highly prone to seismic activity.
Q8. Have there been similar deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan recently?
Yes. In October 2023, a 6.3-magnitude quake in Herat province killed over 2,000 people, and a 2022 quake in Paktika and Khost provinces killed more than 1,000.
Q9. Why was the recent earthquake particularly destructive?
The shallow depth, combined with poorly constructed homes and villages, amplified the damage. Landslides also blocked roads, delaying rescue operations.
Q10. Who is involved in the rescue efforts?
Taliban soldiers, local civilians, the UN, NGOs, and the Afghan Red Crescent Society are actively assisting survivors and distributing aid.
Q11. What challenges are rescue teams facing?
Rescue operations are hindered by mountainous terrain, landslides, limited infrastructure, and remote village locations.
Q12. How is the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan affected?
Afghanistan faces a dire humanitarian crisis, with 92% of households experiencing food insecurity and limited access to healthcare and shelters.
Q13. What aid organizations are providing relief?
UN agencies, including OCHA and the World Food Programme, along with the Afghan Red Crescent Society, are distributing tents, blankets, food, and medical supplies.
Q14. How many people were directly affected by past quakes?
The October 2023 earthquake affected around 43,000 people, and similar numbers are expected for this recent disaster.
Q15. Which groups are most vulnerable?
Women and children remain the most vulnerable, often lacking safe shelter and medical care, and accounted for over 90% of fatalities in previous quakes.
Q16. What immediate needs are being addressed?
Immediate relief focuses on shelter, medical assistance, food, clean water, and warm supplies ahead of winter.
Q17. How can the international community help?
Governments, NGOs, businesses, and philanthropists can contribute through donations, humanitarian aid, and long-term infrastructure projects to support recovery.
Q18. Why is long-term support important?
Investing in resilient infrastructure, healthcare systems, and disaster preparedness reduces future risks and ensures sustainable recovery.
Q19. How can private businesses contribute?
Through public-private partnerships, technology-driven aid delivery, and funding reconstruction efforts, businesses can help stabilize affected regions and foster economic development.
Q20. Why is global support critical for Afghanistan?
Global solidarity not only provides immediate relief but also promotes stability and sustainable development in a geopolitically important region, benefiting both local communities and international stakeholders.
