Over 1,000 Dead in Afghanistan's Strong Earthquake After 20 Years... Rescue Operations Also Hampered

Fatalities Increasing After Incident at Dawn When Residents Were Asleep
Western Aid Cut Off Following Taliban Recontrol...Shortage of Relief Supplies

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] At least 1,000 people have died and more than 1,500 have been injured so far due to an earthquake that struck southeastern Afghanistan. The United Nations (UN) and international relief organizations are assisting with search and rescue operations, but a lack of equipment is causing significant difficulties, raising concerns that the death toll may rise sharply.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 22nd (local time), the Taliban government ruling Afghanistan announced, "At least 1,000 people have died and more than 1,500 have been injured due to the earthquake that struck southeastern Afghanistan." The day before, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurred in Paktika Province near the border with Pakistan in southeastern Afghanistan. This earthquake is the largest in 20 years and occurred in the early morning while many residents were asleep, resulting in greater casualties.

Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, said in a video briefing that "approximately 2,000 homes appear to have been destroyed by this earthquake," and expressed concern that "the actual number of casualties may be much higher than reported." In particular, in the mountainous Gayan area of Paktika Province bordering Pakistan, more than 1,800 homes, accounting for 70% of all houses, were destroyed, and a significant number of residents are reported to have died.

In the affected areas, an average of 7 to 8 people lived per household, and most houses were poorly built with mud bricks without steel structures, so it is estimated that many more victims were trapped under the debris due to the sudden earthquake.

The Taliban government, which currently rules Afghanistan, has dispatched rescue teams to the earthquake site together with UN-affiliated relief organizations to search for and rescue survivors. However, it is reported that search operations are facing difficulties due to a lack of equipment and worsening weather conditions. Since the Taliban overthrew the Afghan government forces and reoccupied Afghanistan in September last year, support from the United States and the West has been cut off, worsening the economic crisis and significantly restricting the activities of international relief organizations.