A powerful series of aftershocks struck eastern Afghanistan on Thursday night and Friday morning, injuring at least ten more people and causing additional damage. Taliban authorities confirmed these new casualties on Friday, compounding the devastation from Sunday’s catastrophic earthquake.
The US Geological Survey recorded five shallow tremors, with the strongest measuring magnitude 5.6. Furthermore, some significant aftershocks rattled both Kabul and Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital city. National disaster authority spokesman Mohammad Hammad told AFP these tremors jolted eight provinces, injuring people across the region. Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces suffered the hardest impacts once again. Consequently, this new wave of injuries adds to the staggering total exceeding 3,700 people hurt initially.
Human Toll Mounts Amidst Ongoing Fear
The original magnitude-6.0 earthquake killed more than 2,200 people in eastern Afghanistan just before Sunday’s midnight, making it the deadliest quake in decades. Resident Enamullah Safi described fleeing his home overnight as aftershocks struck Nuristan province north of Kunar.
“Everyone was afraid. We are still afraid and have not returned to our homes,” the 25-year-old cook told AFP. Safi huddled under a blanket with others seeking warmth during the cold, mountain night, reporting that some houses sustained damage or were destroyed completely.
However, he added they received little assistance because aid teams focus efforts on the hardest-hit zones. Landslides and rockfalls blocked access routes already poor due to ongoing aftershocks shaking the area. Consequently, relief efforts face severe logistical hurdles across the affected regions.
Nation Grapples with Compounding Disasters
Meanwhile, this disaster hits Afghanistan while the nation contends with multiple, overlapping crises after decades of conflict. Endemic poverty cripples the population alongside severe drought conditions affecting food security nationwide.
Furthermore, millions of Afghans face forced returns from Pakistan and Iran since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover. Therefore, the earthquake and its relentless aftershocks push an already fragile population to the brink. Communities remain terrified, displaced, and struggling to access basic aid amidst the rubble and isolation.
