Over 2 200 killed, 3 500 injured after shallow M6.0 earthquake hits Hindu Kush, Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry confirmed on September 1 that at least 622 people were killed and more than 1 500 injured following a shallow M6.0 earthquake in the Hindu Kush region at 19:17 UTC (23:47 local time) on August 31, 2025. On September 4–5, a Taliban spokesperson said 2 217 people were killed, and by September 6, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported nearly 3 000 deaths and about 4 000 injuries. Entire villages were destroyed and access routes blocked by landslides and rain-triggered debris flows.
Damage caused by M6.0 earthquake in Hindu Kush, Afghanistan on August 31, 2025. Credit: TOLO News
A strong and shallow M6.0 earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of eastern Afghanistan at 19:17 UTC (23:47 local time) on Sunday, August 31. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a depth of 10 km (6 miles), while the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) listed 8 km (5 miles).
The epicenter was located near the boundary between Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, approximately 27 km (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad.
Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry reported early Monday morning, September 1 at least 622 fatalities and over 1 500 injuries across affected regions. Kunar Province was the most severely impacted, with more than 500 dead and 1 000 injured across five districts. Nangarhar Province recorded at least 9 deaths and around 250 injuries, while approximately 80 people were injured in Laghman Province.
Field reports indicate that entire villages were reduced to rubble. Damage was exacerbated by a series of aftershocks, at least 13, including two M5.2 events, and landslides triggered by both seismic shaking and ongoing heavy rainfall. Access to remote mountainous areas, especially in Kunar, has been severely hampered by blocked roads and collapsed infrastructure.
Hours after the mainshock, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced that local officials and volunteers had initiated rescue operations and distributed aid supplies. He also confirmed that, due to limited domestic resources, the Taliban government formally requested assistance from international humanitarian agencies.
Helicopters have been deployed to evacuate injured individuals and deliver emergency supplies. According to Afghanistan’s Public Health Ministry, full assessment of casualties and damage remains incomplete due to the remoteness of the epicentral region and ongoing logistical challenges.
Hindu Kush region is among the most seismically active zones in the world, driven by the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Earthquakes in this region often occur at intermediate or shallow depths.
Updates
September 2 at 11:18 UTC
The death toll has increased to over 1 400 and the number of injured to at least 3 500. However, thousands more are feared to be buried beneath collapsed buildings.
The number of collapsed homes has exceeded 8 000.
September 8 at 14:23 UTC
On September 4–5, a Taliban spokesperson said that 2 217 people were killed. By September 6, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported nearly 3 000 deaths and about 4 000 injuries.
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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