Strong earthquake 6 points of the Richter scale was marked on Monday (01.09.2025) in the south Afghanistanwith the authorities already referring to 20 dead and 100 injured.
The epicenter of the earthquake, which occurred at 23:47 (local time; 22:17 Greek time) at low depths – 8 kilometers – was found 42 kilometers from Jalalambad, in Afghanistan, according to the USSR Institute of Geological Survey.
The German Geosciences Research Center (GFZ), for its part, also estimated that the size of the seismic vibration was 6 degrees, estimating that the focal depth was slightly larger, 10 kilometers.
Buildings from Kabul to the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, located about 370 kilometers away, allegedly collapsed or suffered from the earthquake that lasted for several seconds. A second earthquake, measuring 4.5 Richter, hit the same province about 20 minutes later, followed by a 5.2 earthquake at the same depth.
In some of the most affected areas of Kunar province, the earthquake also caused landslides that made the area inaccessible.
Four emergency helicopters reportedly were sent to the province, but much more help needed.
Ajmal Daruus, a spokesman for the health services in Nangarhar province, spoke of 9 dead and 25 injured. Earlier, authorities spoke of two children who died when the roof of their home collapsed in the same province.
Taliban officials call for international organizations to send more helicopters to help after the disaster due to the limited resources of the government, as the overwhelming majority of rescue operations must be carried out by air.
The intensity of the earthquake was strong in #Kin #Afghanistan. They will need urgent help. pic.twitter.com/JJM6s3ZGbK
– Khalyla Harito (@khalylaharo) August 31, 2025
Indeed, the Taliban government estimates that at least 4,000 people were killed. The UN gave a much lower number of dead, about 1,500.
Afghanistan is often affected by strong earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Cous Mountains, near which the Eurasian and Indian Tectonic Plaque intersect.
Last week, Nangarhar was hit by sudden floods, left behind five dead and causing damage to crops and residential areas.