Afghanistan earthquake kills hundreds: World Vision deeply concerned, declares response
KABUL, Afghanistan – World Vision expresses deep concern following the devastating earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan overnight, reportedly killing hundreds and injuring thousands more. The magnitude 6.0 quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), with its epicentre located 27 km south of Asadabad city in Kunar Province. Tremors were felt across Kabul, Islamabad, and New Delhi.
According to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), preliminary reports suggest at least 800 fatalities and 2,000 injuries, though figures may rise as access improves. Entire villages in Chawki and Noorgul Districts have been completely or partially destroyed, with homes made of mud and timber collapsing and trapping residents under rubble.
The affected districts are among the most remote in Afghanistan. Landslides have blocked key access routes, and aircraft have been deployed to support rescue operations and evacuate critical patients to Jalalabad and Kabul. Mobile health and nutrition teams, ambulances, and local volunteers are working alongside NGOs and the military to provide emergency support.
“News of this latest earthquake, and the apparent loss of hundreds of lives, is devastating,” said Thamindri De Silva, National Director, World Vision Afghanistan. “We lived through the 2023 Herat Earthquake, and the effects are still being felt today. We know the impact of this quake will be long-lasting and extremely painful. Children are among the most at risk and will pay the highest price.”
World Vision is declaring an emergency response to enable swift mobilisation of resources. While World Vision does not currently operate in Kunar, Nangarhar, or Laghman provinces, it will deliver support through a local partner organisation already active in the region.
“Earthquakes in Afghanistan are especially deadly due to the fragile nature of housing and infrastructure,” De Silva added. “Most homes are built from mud and timber, making them highly vulnerable to collapse. In remote areas, access to healthcare, clean water, and education is already limited. A disaster of this scale exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and deepens humanitarian need.”
Afghanistan is already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 22.9 million people require humanitarian assistance in 2025 and 3.5 million children are acutely malnourished. The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan calls for USD$2.42 billion, but only 25.9% of funding requirements have been met as of August 2025. The cutting of foreign aid has contributed to this shortfall, forcing humanitarian actors to scale back operations.
World Vision stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and urges the international community to respond swiftly and generously to this unfolding tragedy.
Cover picture: World Vision archive (Herat earthquake, 2023)
Media Contact:
World Vision Afghanistan Communications
Mark Calder, Advocacy, Policy and Communications Director, World Vision Afghanistan: Tel +44 (0) 7877 243509; email: mark_calder@wvi.org