Afghanistan earthquake kills over 1,400, thousands feared trapped as rescue efforts intensify

The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan late Sunday has risen to at least 1,400, with more than 3,000 people injured and thousands still feared trapped under the debris of collapsed homes. Rescue efforts are ongoing in affected provinces, though officials admit the figures remain fluid.

Most casualties were reported in Kunar province, where villages in steep river valleys have been devastated. According to the Afghan Red Crescent Society, over 8,000 houses built with mud and wood have been destroyed, leaving families homeless. Survivors and villagers have joined the rescue operations, often digging through rubble with their bare hands.

The quake, measured at 6.0-magnitude by the USGS, struck just 27 kilometres from Jalalabad at a shallow depth of 8 kilometres, triggering landslides and aftershocks. Helicopters are being used to evacuate the injured, while aid groups are walking across rough terrain and blocked roads to reach the most remote areas.

International support is beginning to flow in. India has sent family tents and food supplies to Kunar, while the UK pledged £1 million in aid to humanitarian agencies. China and other governments have also offered assistance as Afghanistan grapples with one of its deadliest natural disasters in years.