Afghanistan was struck by a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake, killing at least 600 people and injuring over 1300, according to a BBC report. Rescue operations are ongoing. Many people are reported to be missing who are believed to be stuck under the rubble of damaged structures. Tremors of the quake were also felt in Pakistan.
Epicentre, Depth of Afghanistan Earthquake
USGS reported that the 6.3 magnitude quake hit near Jalalabad, Nangarhar province. This was followed by a 4.7 magnitude quake near the epicentre of the first quake. The second quake occurred at a depth of around 140 km.
Afghan health officials are regularly updating the death toll. Earlier, authorities reported that around 30 people were killed in a single village after the powerful earthquake struck the region. So far, 250 are confirmed dead, with authorities saying that the death toll is expected to rise.
The UN in Afghanistan is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the eastern region & claimed hundreds of lives, injuring many more. Our teams are on the ground, delivering emergency assistance & lifesaving support. Our thoughts are with the affected communities pic.twitter.com/rCE6b3WzSU
— UN Afghanistan (@unafghanistan) September 1, 2025
Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Expected To Rise
Sharafat Zaman, health ministry spokesperson, said in a statement, “the number of casualties and injuries is high, but since the area is difficult to access, our teams are still on site,”.
Afghanistan lies in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which is the region where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The region is prone to earthquakes due to high plate activity and its location in the high seismic zone.
2023 Afghanistan Earthquake
Notable quake, preliminary info: M 6.0 – 27 km ENE of Jalālābād, Afghanistan https://t.co/hE9lf5oIhx
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) August 31, 2025
In 2023, Afghanistan witnessed a 6.3 earthquake in which around 4,000 people were killed. However, a UN report said that around 1,500 people were killed. The recent earthquake is among the deadliest quakes in recent years.
Afghanistan is prone to deadly earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the.
Also Read: 6.0-Magnitude Quake Strikes Southeastern Afghanistan Near Pakistan Border
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
