KABUL, Sept 3 (V7N) — A magnitude 5.5 earthquake jolted southeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, further destabilizing a region still reeling from a catastrophic magnitude‑6 tremor two days earlier, which has resulted in over 1,400 confirmed deaths.
 
The latest quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, matching the depth of the previous disastrous tremor, compounding fears about the potential for additional devastation.
 
 Heightened panic ensued as landslides triggered by the aftershock choked mountain roads, halting rescue efforts and making rubble removal far more hazardous.
 
Safiullah Noorzai of humanitarian tech NGO Aseel, which has deployed response teams to the mountainous areas, warned that more injuries have likely occurred, pushing the death toll even higher.
 
The initial quake struck around midnight on Sunday, flattening homes in remote villages across Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. So far, the toll stands at 1,411 confirmed dead, 3,124 injured, and over 5,400 homes destroyed, according to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.
 
The scale of the destruction has prompted urgent calls from humanitarian groups. Save the Children described the situation as “a race against time,” emphasizing the urgent need to evacuate the injured and provide clean water, food, and shelter before disease outbreaks occur.
 
Efforts by rescue teams are severely hampered by rugged terrain, weather challenges, and damaged infrastructure. Those still trapped under debris face perilous conditions as ambulances and helicopters struggle to reach isolated communities.
 
Children remain especially vulnerable. UNICEF has dispatched emergency supplies—along with warm clothing, tents, hygiene items, and psychosocial support—for families in need.
 
Taliban soldiers are assisting with relief and security, but the administration is severely constrained by shrinking foreign aid and mounting humanitarian needs. International donors like Britain, India, China, the EU, the UAE, and Pakistan have pledged support, though much of it has not yet arrived.
 
As the nation grapples with this tragedy, the overwhelming scale of destruction compounded by scarce resources underscores an urgent need for a coordinated global response to avert further catastrophe.
 
END/WD/SMA/