Afghanistan earthquake: Health Cluster situation report #3 (8 September 2025)

Overview

A magnitude M6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, at 11:48 PM (GMT +4.30) on 31 August 2025, with epicenter Kama in district, severely impacting communities across Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman and Nuristan provinces.

The earthquake occurred along the Kunar major fault line, the area historically categorized as high seismic risk with severe shake intensity levels.

Preliminary reports indicate widespread destruction of homes, public infrastructure, and critical services, particularly in rural and mountainous areas where building structures are highly vulnerable to seismic shocks. Given the shallow depth and proximity to populated areas, the earthquake caused major structural damage and casualties are anticipated.

• Over 2,205 deaths
• Over 3,640 injuries, many in remote mountainous areas
• Over 6,700 homes destroyed
• 6.8 million people living in affected provinces
• 80 health facilities recently closed due to funding cuts
• Chawkay, Nurgal, Chapa Dara, Dara-e- Pech, and Watapur, and Khas Kunar in Kunar province, Dara-e-Nur in Nangarhar province and Alingar district in Laghman province are the most impacted districts.
• Access challenges road closures, geographic constraints, limited phone coverage, uncoordinated direct engagement of some partners outside cluster mechanisms.