A major earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar Province on August 31, 2025, just after midnight, with unimaginably catastrophic impact. The quake, which registered 6.0 on the Richter scale and hit only 8 kilometers below the surface, rippled through and terrorized the entire region. Sadly, the international response has been paltry in addressing the fallout. The region paid a historic price, with more than 3,500 lives lost. Over 13,000 buildings were either damaged or destroyed, underscoring the immediate need for better infrastructure and disaster response in Afghanistan.
The earthquake was most felt on villages, where as many as 90% of structures were damaged. The timing of the quake, which occurred just before midnight, contributed to the high casualty figures as many residents were indoors and asleep. Further, the quake set off major landslides that covered roadways and villages with debris, hampering rescue efforts in the immediate wake of the temblor. Near the fault zone, ground deformation during the mainshock was as great as 23 centimeters (9 inches). An additional 17 centimeters of ground shaking from aftershocks on September 4 added to the damage.
Extensive Damage and Casualties
The destruction in Kunar Province was staggering. The quake rendered damaged or destroyed an estimated 13,241 structures within a 50-km radius of the epicenter. In many villages, the blow was insurmountable. In many of these areas, preliminary damage assessments have found as many as 90% of buildings damaged. The combination of a shallow quake depth with equally intense surface shaking created a recipe for widespread structural fail.
For emergency responders, the towering piles of rubble and debris have posed another major challenge as they attempt to sift and search. The landslides caused by the earthquake blocked major transportation arteries, hindering access to remote communities. Rescue operations continue, but are limited by their need for more resources and aid.
The loss of life has been terrible, with more than 3,500 dead. Lives of families have been irrevocably shattered and families removed, and our broader communities changed forever by this tragedy. The survivors’ emotional toll is impossible to measure as they see sadness and mourning becoming a place of their past while trying to see what’s next.
Economic Hardship and International Isolation
Afghanistan’s economic situation leading up to the earthquake exacerbated the disaster’s impact. Faltering economic opportunity and lack of development have left millions of Afghans living in traditionally built structures. These homes are not built to withstand seismic activity, creating an imminent danger to life. The failure to invest in infrastructure and disaster risk reduction measures has largely left the population vulnerable to natural disasters.
In addition, Afghanistan’s international isolation has drastically affected the civil society’s access to aid on the ground including crucial disaster relief aid and humanitarian support from global community. Country after country has sanctioned and/or reduced their presence and functionality within Afghanistan in light of the political environment. Naturally, the need for humanitarian assistance has outstripped all expectations and never been more urgent. Without any outside support, the local government simply can’t provide the support necessary to drive recovery efforts.
International experts emphasize that this disaster underscores the critical need for sustained investment in safer construction practices and comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies. Without proactive measures, similar tragedies will be repeated in the near future.
Urgent Need for Investment in Disaster Preparedness
The recent earthquake has highlighted not only the immediate devastation but the long-term challenges Afghanistan faces in disaster preparedness. Experts warn that without investment in resilient infrastructure and community education on disaster response, future earthquakes could lead to even greater loss of life and damage.
The international community should take heed and rethink its approach of disengagement with Afghanistan. Helping them develop safer buildings and better disaster management programs would prevent a considerable amount of future risk at little cost.
