Afghanistan Earthquake: Rescuers Struggle to Reach Remote Kunar Villages

Desperate Search Continues as Aftershocks Threaten Already-Fragile Infrastructure
Kunar Province, Afghanistan – September 1, 2025Rescue efforts are underway in eastern Afghanistan after a powerful earthquake struck the mountainous Kunar region, leaving scores dead and many more trapped under rubble. According to Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, emergency teams are facing difficult terrain, blocked roads, and limited communications as they work to reach the most isolated communities near the epicenter.

“Rescue teams are doing their best under difficult conditions,” Mujahid said via official government channels. “But many areas remain inaccessible due to landslides and ongoing aftershocks.”

Location and Magnitude
The earthquake, which struck late Saturday night, registered 6.4 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter near Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province, close to the border with Pakistan. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) a shallow depth that tends to cause more surface-level destruction.
Why Are Shallow Earthquakes More Destructive?
Shallow earthquakes (those less than 70 km deep) are closer to the Earth’s surface, meaning the seismic energy has less distance to travel before hitting buildings and infrastructure. This leads to stronger shaking, particularly in poorly constructed or fragile housing common in rural parts of Afghanistan.
Timeline: Afghanistan’s Deadliest Earthquakes Since 2015
Afghanistan sits at the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active countries in South and Central Asia. Major quakes in recent years include:

October 2015 – Hindu Kush earthquake kills over 380 people across Afghanistan and Pakistan.

June 2022 – Paktika earthquake leaves over 1,000 dead, one of the worst disasters in decades.

March 2023 – Herat province hit by a 6.5-magnitude quake, with at least 45 deaths reported.

 Humanitarian Concerns Grow
With winter approaching, humanitarian agencies fear that lack of shelter, food, and medical aid could cause further loss of life in quake-hit zones. Access to these remote areas has always been difficult, but political instability and infrastructure collapse since the Taliban returned to power have worsened response capabilities.
International aid remains minimal due to sanctions and the lack of diplomatic recognition of the Taliban regime. However, several NGOs, including Médecins Sans Frontières and the Red Crescent, have mobilized mobile clinics and relief supplies.