September/2025

The 2025 Afghanistan Earthquake: A Humanitarian Emergency in Kunar Province.

On the night of 31 August 2025, a devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, shaking the mountains and valleys of Kunar Province and neighboring regions. With a magnitude of around 6.0, the shallow quake unleashed widespread destruction across fragile rural communities clinging to steep terrain. In less than a minute, entire villages were reduced to rubble. Thousands of people lost their lives or suffered serious injuries, while tens of thousands more were suddenly left homeless—just weeks before the bitter Afghan winter.

The quake was more than just a geological event. It exposed Afghanistan’s deep-seated vulnerabilities: fragile housing, poor infrastructure, poverty, isolation, and political instability. These factors combined to magnify the suffering of ordinary people. As survivors search for loved ones, bury their dead, and attempt to rebuild, the 2025 Afghanistan earthquake stands as both a profound tragedy and a wake-up call for stronger disaster preparedness, community resilience, and international solidarity.

According to multiple recent reports, the estimated numbers for the 31 August 2025 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan are:

● Deaths: about 2,200 people .(AP News)
● Injured: approximately 3,600–3,640 people .(AP News)

Afghanistan’s Seismic Vulnerability

Afghanistan sits at a seismically active crossroads. The country lies on the collision zone of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, where tectonic stress is constantly released in the form of earthquakes. The Hindu Kush region is especially notorious for deep and shallow quakes, making Afghanistan one of the most earthquake-prone countries in Asia.

Historical Background of Afghan Earthquakes

Afghanistan has endured a long and tragic history of earthquakes.

● In June 2022, a magnitude 5.9 quake struck Paktika Province, killing over 1,100 people and leaving thousands injured.
● In 1998, two devastating earthquakes hit Takhar and Badakhshan Provinces within months, killing more than 6,000 people.
● In 2002, a powerful quake in Nahrin (Baghlan Province) killed about 1,000 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

These events show a clear pattern: in Afghanistan, even moderate earthquakes often translate into large-scale humanitarian disasters because of weak infrastructure and limited emergency response.

Why Afghanistan Is So Vulnerable

Several overlapping factors make Afghanistan highly vulnerable to earthquakes:

1. Shallow Depth Earthquakes

Shallow earthquakes cause more intense shaking at the surface. The 2025 quake was shallow, meaning its destructive force was concentrated directly on local communities.

2. Mountainous Terrain

Eastern Afghanistan is dominated by steep valleys and unstable slopes. Earthquakes often trigger landslides, which bury entire settlements, cut off roads, and isolate communities for weeks.

3. Weak Infrastructure

Most Afghan homes are built with mudbrick, stone, and timber—cheap but fragile materials. These structures collapse easily, leaving little chance for survival when walls cave in.

4. Poverty and Isolation

Many families cannot afford to build earthquake-resistant homes or stockpile emergency supplies. Remote rural villages also lack quick access to hospitals or disaster relief, worsening the impact.

5. Political Instability

Years of conflict and fragile governance weaken state institutions and limit investment in disaster preparedness. International aid often faces logistical or political obstacles.

The 2025 earthquake tragically demonstrated how these vulnerabilities combined to turn a moderate-magnitude quake into a national catastrophe.

The Immediate Impact of the 2025 Earthquake

The earthquake struck just before midnight, when most families were inside their homes. The ground shook violently, sending walls crumbling and roofs collapsing. Within moments, villages that had stood for generations were gone.

1. Human Losses

The death toll rose rapidly in the hours and days after the quake. Thousands of Afghans were killed, and many more were seriously injured. Survivors recounted heart-wrenching stories:

● Parents described the horror of watching their children trapped under collapsing roofs.
● In some cases, entire families were buried alive as their mudbrick homes disintegrated.
● Rescue workers heard cries for help from beneath the rubble, but lacked equipment to save victims in time.

Hospitals quickly became overwhelmed. Many of the injured suffered fractures, head injuries, and crush wounds. Without proper treatment, infections set in. Some patients died from injuries that would have been survivable with better healthcare infrastructure.

2. Destruction of Villages

In Kunar Province, dozens of villages were completely flattened.
● Schools and mosques collapsed, killing worshippers and students.
● Health centers crumbled, leaving communities without basic medical care.
● Families lost their food reserves, livestock, and firewood supplies—critical resources for surviving the winter.

One survivor from Asadabad, the provincial capital, said: “We built our houses with our own hands. In seconds, everything was gone—our home, our food, our animals. We have nothing left.”

3. Displacement of People

The quake left tens of thousands homeless. Overnight, families were forced to sleep in the open or under makeshift shelters.
● Many used tarpaulins, blankets, and sticks to create temporary shelters.
● Children and the elderly were especially vulnerable to cold, hunger, and disease.
● Overcrowded camps with poor sanitation raised fears of cholera and respiratory infections.

For many survivors, displacement is not temporary. With homes destroyed and no money to rebuild, families may remain in camps for years.

Challenges in Rescue and Relief

Afghanistan’s geography, weak infrastructure, and political instability made rescue and relief operations painfully slow.

Difficult Terrain

The quake triggered landslides, blocking narrow mountain passes. Trucks carrying food and medical supplies were forced to stop miles away. In many cases, aid workers had to walk for hours along dangerous trails to reach isolated villages.

Helicopter access was limited due to steep valleys and rough weather. Some communities waited days before receiving their first aid deliveries.

Limited Emergency Capacity

Afghanistan’s healthcare system was already fragile, and the earthquake pushed it to breaking point.

● Hospitals lacked ambulances, medicines, and surgical equipment.
● Local clinics collapsed, leaving entire districts without medical care.
● Doctors performed surgeries with minimal supplies, sometimes without anesthesia.


This limited capacity meant many injured people died before receiving help.

Harsh Weather

The earthquake struck just weeks before the onset of winter. In the mountainous regions of Kunar, night temperatures quickly drop below freezing.

● Families without blankets or warm clothing risked hypothermia.
● Children developed respiratory illnesses from prolonged exposure.
● The need for winter tents, fuel, and warm clothes was as urgent as food and medicine.

Political and Economic Struggles

The ongoing political crisis in Afghanistan complicated the response. International organizations faced delays at borders, bureaucratic restrictions, and security challenges. Donor governments hesitated to send large-scale assistance due to political concerns.

This meant relief efforts were slower and less coordinated than in other global disasters.

Humanitarian Response

Despite immense challenges, both local resilience and international solidarity shaped the response.

Local Communities First

As in most disasters, survivors themselves were the first responders.

● Neighbors dug survivors from rubble with bare hands.
● Mosques, schools, and madrassas were converted into shelters.
● Families shared scarce food and water, even while enduring hunger themselves.

This spirit of solidarity saved countless lives in the first critical days.

National and International Aid

Gradually, organized aid arrived.

● The United Nations, Red Crescent, and international NGOs launched emergency appeals.
● Relief supplies included tents, blankets, food parcels, medical kits, and clean water tablets.
● Mobile health teams reached isolated areas, providing first aid and vaccinations.
● Cash assistance programs allowed families to buy essentials from local markets.

Focus on Vulnerable Groups

Aid agencies prioritized vulnerable groups:

● Children received psychosocial support to cope with trauma.
● Women and girls were provided hygiene kits and safe spaces in camps.
● Elderly and disabled people were given priority in shelter and medical care.

By addressing specific needs, humanitarian agencies helped prevent secondary tragedies in already traumatized communities.

Long-Term Consequences

The earthquake’s damage went beyond immediate loss of life. Its long-term consequences are severe:

1. Economic Losses – With homes, farms, and livestock destroyed, families lost their primary sources of income. Hunger and malnutrition deepened.
2. Education Disruption – Thousands of children were left without schools, disrupting education for months or years.
3. Psychological Trauma – Survivors, especially children, suffer from grief, nightmares, and anxiety.
4. Migration Pressures – Many displaced families moved to urban areas like Jalalabad and Kabul, straining already weak services.
5. Health Crisis – Injuries, poor sanitation, and outbreaks of disease added to Afghanistan’s ongoing healthcare struggles.

Lessons and the Way Forward

The 2025 earthquake offers painful but vital lessons:

● Invest in Stronger Housing – Even low-cost reinforcements in construction could save lives.
● Strengthen Emergency Systems – Training local health workers and pre-stocking supplies can reduce casualties.
● Develop Early Warning Systems – Affordable earthquake alerts could give communities precious seconds to evacuate.
● Community Preparedness – Education in schools and villages about what to do during quakes can save lives.
● International Collaboration – Political challenges should not block humanitarian aid. Global solidarity must prioritize human needs.

The 2025 Afghanistan earthquake was a humanitarian catastrophe. Thousands lost their lives, entire communities were flattened, and survivors were left to endure displacement, hunger, and grief. The tragedy revealed how poverty, fragile housing, and political instability turn natural hazards into deadly disasters.

Yet the quake also highlighted the resilience of Afghan communities and the importance of international support. Neighbors helped one another, local leaders provided shelter, and humanitarian groups worked tirelessly to deliver aid.

This disaster must not fade into memory as just another tragedy in a troubled country. Instead, it should be seen as a call to action: to invest in disaster preparedness, strengthen resilience, and ensure that Afghan families are not left so vulnerable when the next earthquake inevitably strikes.

Only then can the memory of those lost in 2025 be honored through a safer, more resilient Afghanistan.