Devastating Earthquake Kills Over 800 in Afghanistan as Taliban Appeals for International Aid

SEP 2, KATHMANDU – One of Afghanistan’s deadliest earthquakes has claimed the lives of more than 800 people and left at least 2,800 injured, according to authorities on Monday. The magnitude 6.0 quake struck around midnight local time at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), causing widespread destruction in remote mountainous regions.

Rescue efforts have been severely hampered by rugged terrain and poor weather conditions, as emergency teams struggle to reach the hardest-hit areas.

The disaster adds to the mounting challenges faced by the Taliban-led administration, already under immense pressure due to dwindling foreign aid, economic instability, and the forced return of hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries.

Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry in Kabul, appealed for international support, stressing the scale of the humanitarian crisis. “We need aid because many people have lost their lives and homes,” he said.

The full extent of the damage is still being assessed as rescue and relief operations continue.