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Hello everyone. Today we are going to
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discuss the earthquakes that struck
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eastern Afghanistan on September 2nd. A
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powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck
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near the provinces of Kunar, Nangahar,
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and Lagman late Sunday night. A second
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quake of magnitude 5.25.5
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followed on Tuesday, compounding the
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destruction. Rescue efforts are underway
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amid aftershocks and unstable grounds.
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Tragically, over 1,400 people have died
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with more than 3,000 injured and over
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5,400 homes destroyed. Entire villages
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in Kuno flattened. Rescue operations are
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being hampered by rough landslide prone
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terrain. Roads are blocked and many
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communities remain unreachable. The
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Taliban has deployed commandos y
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helicopter and airdrops to assist in
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evacuating the injured. Some 18s are
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trekking over 12 miles on foot to reach
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survivors. Survivors describe
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unimaginable losses. Women like
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80year-old Gabby are left with just one
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surviving grandchild. In one village,
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nearly every home was destroyed and
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entire's families wiped out. The United
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Nations and organizations like Medic San
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Franc are delivering trauma kits and
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coordinating aid drops. Countries
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including the UK, India, the EU and
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China have pledged funds and supplies,
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but excess remains a massive obstacle
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amid ongoing weather and logistical
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challenges. This disaster highlights how
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fragile communities built on mudbreak
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homes become catastrophically vulnerable
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in seismic zones, especially amid the
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humanitarian and geopolitical isolation
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faced by Afghanistan today.
