KABUL: A powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan just before midnight local time on Monday, September 1, 2025, killing at least 800 people and injuring 2,500.

The seismic event, which has caused widespread devastation, was centered near the border with Pakistan.

The earthquake, which hit at approximately 1:02 AM NST on September 2, 2025, in Nepali Time, has resulted in the majority of casualties being reported in Kunar province.

According to officials from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), casualties have also been reported in the neighboring provinces of Nangarhar and Laghman.

Rescue and aid operations are facing immense challenges due to the remote and mountainous terrain, which has minimal road infrastructure.

Reports from a resident in the Nurgal district indicate that entire villages have been flattened, with many people trapped under the rubble.

Rescue teams from the Ministries of Defense, Interior, and Public Health are on the ground, with the injured being airlifted to the Nangarhar Regional Hospital.

The UN and other international aid organizations are responding to the disaster, but their efforts are being hampered by the difficult access to affected areas.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, has directed local officials to use all available resources for the rescue operation.