Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 1,400 as Hope Fades on Survivors 

At least 1,400 people have been killed and more than 3,000 injured after a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late on Sunday night, flattening villages and leaving thousands trapped under rubble.

The quake, which hit around 11:47 p.m. local time, was centered near Jalalabad and caused widespread destruction across Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.

Entire communities built from mud-brick homes were reduced to rubble as families slept.

Authorities say the death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers struggle to reach remote villages cut off by landslides and aftershocks.

A magnitude-5.2 tremor on Tuesday added to the danger, forcing many survivors to spend nights in the open.

“The devastation is overwhelming. We urgently need tents, food, and medical supplies,” a local official said, confirming that hospitals in Jalalabad and Kabul are overflowing with patients.

The Taliban government has appealed for international assistance, acknowledging that the scale of the disaster exceeds the country’s capacity.

The United Nations and aid agencies have begun deploying emergency supplies, including tents, medical kits, and food rations. UNICEF said it was rushing support to children and families displaced by the quake.

Meanwhile, international pledges of aid are trickling in. Pakistan and Iran have already dispatched relief convoys, while India, China, the UAE, and Britain have promised shipments of tents, medicine, and funds.

However, poor infrastructure and limited resources are slowing delivery.

Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain and fragile infrastructure have long made it vulnerable to earthquakes.

Experts warn that weak building standards and an ongoing humanitarian crisis have worsened the impact of this disaster.

With thousands still feared trapped, rescue teams are continuing their search under difficult conditions. For many families, the race to find survivors is a battle against time.