Afghanistan has been struck by its deadliest natural disaster in nearly two years after a powerful earthquake ripped through western provinces, killing at least 610 people and injuring hundreds more. The disaster has left communities devastated, overwhelming fragile health facilities and compounding the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The Earthquake
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake registered a magnitude of 6.5 and struck near the Herat region, close to Afghanistan’s border with Iran. Tremors were felt across several provinces, including Farah and Badghis, with aftershocks continuing for hours.
Entire villages were reduced to rubble as mud-brick homes collapsed under the quake’s force. Rescue workers reported that many victims were trapped beneath debris, while others were injured by falling walls and roofs. 
“This is one of the most destructive earthquakes we’ve seen in years. Families have lost everything in minutes,” a spokesperson for Afghanistan’s disaster management authority said.
Rising Death Toll
The Afghan Ministry of Public Health confirmed that at least 610 people have been killed, with the number expected to rise as rescue efforts continue in remote areas. Hundreds more have been hospitalized, many with critical injuries.
Casualty figures are particularly high in rural villages, where infrastructure is fragile and homes are poorly equipped to withstand seismic activity. In some districts, entire families were wiped out.
Humanitarian Response
Aid agencies have rushed to the scene, but Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation complicates relief efforts. The country has faced years of conflict, economic collapse, and isolation from the global financial system since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Doctors Without Borders, the Red Crescent, and the United Nations have all dispatched emergency medical teams, tents, and supplies. However, officials warn that resources are stretched thin.
“Afghanistan was already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. This earthquake makes an already dire situation catastrophic,” a UN representative said.
Survivors’ Struggles
Survivors describe scenes of horror and heartbreak. Many remain camped out in open fields, fearful of aftershocks and with no safe shelter to return to. Families search desperately through rubble for missing relatives, often with bare hands due to the lack of heavy equipment.
In Herat, hospitals are overflowing, forcing doctors to treat patients in hallways and courtyards. Blood shortages and inadequate surgical supplies are hindering efforts to save lives.
Comparisons to Past Quakes
This earthquake is Afghanistan’s deadliest since 2023, when a powerful quake struck eastern provinces, killing hundreds. The country lies on several seismic fault lines and is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, particularly in mountainous and rural regions where construction is weak.
Unlike wealthier nations with advanced early-warning systems and resilient infrastructure, Afghanistan remains at severe risk whenever seismic activity strikes.
International Reactions
Condolences and pledges of support have poured in from neighboring countries and global leaders. Iran and Pakistan have offered to send medical supplies and rescue teams, while the European Union said it was preparing emergency aid packages.
The broader international community faces a delicate challenge: providing humanitarian relief without legitimizing the Taliban government, which remains diplomatically isolated.
Long-Term Challenges
The immediate priority is rescuing survivors and providing shelter, food, and medical assistance. However, the long-term challenges are staggering. Rebuilding homes, schools, and hospitals in a country already crippled by poverty and political isolation will require billions in aid.
Analysts warn that unless Afghanistan receives sustained international assistance, the earthquake could worsen displacement, hunger, and instability in an already fragile nation.
Conclusion
The earthquake that killed over 600 people in Afghanistan has become the country’s worst natural disaster since 2023, laying bare the fragility of its infrastructure and the vulnerability of its people. As rescuers continue to search through rubble and survivors mourn their losses, the tragedy highlights both the urgency of immediate relief and the need for long-term resilience in one of the world’s most crisis-stricken nations.
