In a tragic event that has left communities shattered, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Kunar Province, southeast Afghanistan, last weekend, resulting in the death of over 2,200 people. Villages have been devastated, with homes reduced to rubble, forcing survivors to confront the harsh reality of loss and survival.
Survivors are grappling with the aftermath as they mourn their loved ones and search for essentials amid the destruction. The earthquake, which occurred on September 2, 2023, has created an urgent humanitarian crisis in the region. According to reports from Al Jazeera, many families are left with nothing and are struggling to find shelter as winter approaches.
Survivors Share Heartbreaking Accounts
One of the survivors, Gul Rahim, recounted the harrowing experience of losing 63 family members, including his five-year-old daughter, Fatima. “We were asleep at home when the earthquake struck at midnight,” Rahim explained, recalling the chaos as homes collapsed around them. “I managed to escape, but my youngest daughter was trapped inside, crying, ‘Father, get me out of here!’ By the time we reached her, she had passed away.”
Rahim’s story is just one of many that illustrate the profound grief experienced by those affected. The majority of the victims are from Kunar Province, where homes are typically constructed of wood and mud bricks, unable to withstand such powerful tremors. As of September 3, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that at least 6,700 homes have been destroyed.
Ongoing Rescue Efforts and Humanitarian Needs
Rescue operations are continuing despite challenges posed by treacherous roads and ongoing aftershocks, which have already injured at least ten people. Al Jazeera’s correspondent, Ali Hashem, described the difficulties faced by rescue teams: “Getting here was a harrowing experience,” he noted, highlighting the perilous conditions faced while navigating winding cliffside roads.
As hope for finding survivors diminishes, the official death toll is expected to rise, with many individuals still unaccounted for. The WHO has stated that landslides and blocked roads have severely hindered relief efforts. The organization has called for $4 million in funding to provide essential health services, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene support for those affected.
Volunteer Abdulrahman Sharafat emphasized the immediate needs of the survivors, stating, “They need food assistance, safety, and medicine for the children.” Many have turned to makeshift shelters, with Rahim currently residing in a tent and expressing concern about the approaching winter, which brings heavy snowfall to the region. “What we need most are proper homes to survive the cold,” he urged.
Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to seismic activity due to its location at the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This recent earthquake follows a series of deadly quakes in the country, including a magnitude 6.0 tremor in the western province of Herat in October 2023, which resulted in over 2,000 deaths. A year prior, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck eastern provinces, claiming around 1,000 lives.
The situation remains dire as communities come to terms with their losses, and the world watches as Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis deepens.
