The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs expressed condolences to the people of Afghanistan on Monday after a powerful earthquake killed hundreds in the country’s east.
“We were saddened to hear of the deadly earthquake that struck the eastern region of Afghanistan on August 31, resulting in a significant loss of life. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Afghan people during this difficult time,” the bureau said in a statement.
The earthquake struck just after midnight near Asadabad in Kunar province with a magnitude of 6.0. Taliban officials said at least 800 people were killed and more than 2,500 others injured in Kunar alone, with additional casualties reported in Nangarhar and damage in Laghman, Nuristan and Panjshir provinces.
Hospitals in Kunar remain overwhelmed, with helicopters ferrying wounded from hard-to-reach districts. Many families have begun burying victims as aftershocks continue to rattle the region.
The U.S. statement came as other regional leaders — including those of India, Iran and Pakistan — pledged humanitarian support for Afghanistan, which remains diplomatically isolated and under Taliban rule since 2021.
