Over 1,100 Killed in Afghanistan Following Powerful Earthquake, Thousands Injured

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — At least 1,124 people have died and 3,251 were injured after a powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan, the Afghan Red Crescent Society reports. More than 8,000 homes were destroyed.

The ruling Taliban movement has appealed for international assistance. The UN has allocated $5 million through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and the United Kingdom provided £1 million to support the victims. China, India, and Switzerland have also pledged humanitarian aid, according to BBC News.

The magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred around midnight local time on August 31, approximately 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan. The quake’s epicenter was at a depth of roughly eight kilometers.

The heaviest damage was reported in Kunar province, where at least three villages were destroyed. Additional destruction occurred in Lagman, Nuristan, and Panjshir provinces.

Search and rescue operations in remote mountainous areas are hampered by heavy rain, landslides, and damaged infrastructure.