A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan just past midnight on Sunday, triggering one of the deadliest disasters in recent memory.

The quake, centered in Kunar province near the border with Pakistan, occurred at a shallow depth of roughly six to eight kilometers—intensifying the damage across remote, mountainous terrain.

According to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, authorities have confirmed at least 1,411 deaths, over 3,120 injuries, and more than 5,400 homes destroyed in Kunar alone.

The Afghan Red Crescent had earlier reported lower figures—about 1,124 deaths and 3,251 wounded—along with more than 8,000 homes damaged or destroyed.

Rescue teams are still reaching inaccessible valleys, and the toll is expected to climb.

Villages in steep, isolated areas—many constructed from mudbrick and stone—have been leveled, trapping residents under rubble.

Rescuers face immense challenges due to heavy rain, landslides, and impassable roads, forcing some operations to rely on helicopters and manual clearing.

UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies have mobilized with emergency medical aid, shelter, and water supplies, but funding constraints and a weakened health infrastructure are complicating the response.

The quake strikes amid Afghanistan’s mounting crises: a stagnant economy and sharp reductions in foreign aid following the Taliban’s 2021 takeover.