Earthquake in Afghanistan: 1124 Dead in Worst Natural Disaster

The death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Afghanistan last night, Monday, has risen to 1124, according to local authorities, with more than 3000 people injured, as rescue operations continue in the affected areas.

The spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority, Yusuf Hamad, confirmed that the earthquake, which registered 6 on the Richter scale, caused massive destruction in the Kunar region located in the east of the country, which is one of the most mountainous and remote areas.

According to authorities, the rugged mountainous terrain and severe stormy weather have hindered rescue teams from quickly reaching the affected areas.

Hamad pointed out that the earthquake destroyed many mud-brick houses in poor villages, contributing to the rising death toll.

It has been found that many of these buildings were poorly constructed and unable to withstand the earthquake's force, causing their collapse to result in numerous fatalities.

Lebanese geological expert Tony Nemer explained that "the nature of the loose geological layers in the area" was one of the main factors that helped spread the earthquake's effects destructively.

Nemer added in a tweet on his account on "X" that the poor quality of buildings in the affected areas contributed to the doubling of human losses.

For his part, Ihsanullah Ihsan, the disaster management official in Kunar province, reported that rescue teams have begun to reach four severely affected villages, and efforts are expected to continue to reach the more isolated villages, including remote mountainous areas.

Ihsan confirmed that it is impossible to accurately predict the number of victims still under the rubble, but he added that operations are ongoing at maximum speed, focusing on providing humanitarian assistance to the affected families.

It is noteworthy that the earthquake occurred around midnight local time last night, adding another difficulty to the initial operations, as many residents were asleep at the time of the tremor, increasing the risk of injury and death.

Rescue teams continue their work in an attempt to reach all affected areas, while the Afghan government and international humanitarian organizations continue to make doubled efforts to provide support and assistance to those affected by this natural disaster.