The earthquake on June 22 in Afghanistan resulted in a devastating loss of life, with over 1,500 fatalities, primarily due to its shallow epicenter, occurrence during the night, and the fragile infrastructure in the region.
The disaster on June 22 is the deadliest earthquake in Afghanistan since 2002. The area most heavily affected is Paktika province, located 44 km southeast of Khost city, near the border with Pakistan, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Meanwhile, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported that people in Pakistan and India also felt the tremors, but no damage or casualties were recorded in Pakistan.
A man sitting next to the rubble after the earthquake.
According to Reuters, the EMSC assessed the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.1, while the USGS reported it as 5.9.
Based on the USGS data, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake is considered moderately strong. On average, about 1,300 earthquakes of similar magnitude occur worldwide each year.
The New York Times noted that few events attract such attention or result in such a high number of casualties. Currently, the death toll in Afghanistan has surpassed 1,000 and is expected to rise after search and rescue operations conclude.
In addition to the more than 1,000 fatalities, officials reported approximately 1,500 injuries. Furthermore, at least 2,000 homes have been destroyed. According to a representative from the United Nations in Afghanistan, an average household consists of 7-8 residents.
Nightmare Returns After 20 Years
Experts indicate that the earthquake’s epicenter on June 22 was approximately 10 km deep. According to USGS, earthquakes with epicenters less than 70 km deep are classified as shallow earthquakes. Shallow earthquakes typically cause more severe damage compared to deeper ones, as noted by ABC News.
Najibullah Sadid, an expert in water resource management in Afghanistan, stated that the earthquake coincided with the region’s heavy monsoon season, making traditional mud and natural material houses more susceptible to damage.
Additionally, the timing of the earthquake during the night, combined with the shallow epicenter of 10 km, contributed to the high casualty count, according to Sadid.
This assessment is echoed by Mohammad Almas, head of the Qamar aid charity. He believes the death toll will likely be higher, as the earthquake struck at night when people were asleep in their homes, and the affected areas are far from hospitals.
The location of the earthquake on June 22 on the map. (Graphic: BBC).
The areas affected by the earthquake are impoverished and vulnerable mountainous regions. In Paktika, one of the poorest rural areas in the country, many people live in houses made of earth and clay.
“Everyone was sleeping at home, and then the room collapsed on us,” said Gul Faraz, whose wife and child are being treated at a hospital in Paktika. He reported that some family members had lost their lives.
“All the houses in the area have been destroyed, not just one, but the entire area’s houses,” he added.
Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes due to its location near the intersection of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. Historically, many earthquakes have occurred in the Hindu Kush mountain range bordering Pakistan.
Over 1,000 people died in 2002 following two earthquakes in the Nahrin region of northwestern Afghanistan. According to records from the National Environmental Information Center, a significant earthquake in the same area in 1998 claimed 4,700 lives.
In 2015, an earthquake shook South Asia, resulting in over 300 deaths in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
What Challenges Are Rescue Efforts Facing?
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that they are deploying medical teams and providing supplies to quickly assist Afghanistan.
To reach Paktika, rescue workers must navigate through dense forests, hilly terrain, and areas accessible only by dirt roads. Furthermore, rescue operations are further complicated by heavy rainfall, landslides, and many villages nestled in the hills that are almost inaccessible.
“Many people are still buried under the rubble. Rescue teams have arrived, and with the assistance of local residents, we are trying to recover bodies and injured individuals,” a medical worker at a hospital in Paktika stated.
Loretta Hieber Girardet, an expert from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, noted that efforts to provide aid and rescue those trapped will face significant challenges due to the terrain and weather conditions.
“These roads are already very poor even in good weather,” she added, noting that rain combined with tremors would increase the risk of landslides, posing dangers to humanitarian workers.
Afghan official Salahuddin Ayubi indicated that the death toll could rise “because some villages in remote mountainous areas take time to gather detailed information.”
Organizing earthquake relief efforts poses a significant challenge for the Taliban administration, which has been in power since August 2021 and is largely isolated from the international community, receiving no foreign aid due to its hardline policies, including restrictions on women and girls.
