In the pre-dawn hours of August 31, 2025, eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar Province, a remote and mountainous region bordering Pakistan, was rattled by a magnitude 6.0 earthquake. Although moderate on the seismic scale, this tremor inflicted devastating destruction, claiming more than 3,500 lives. The catastrophic impact has been attributed not solely to the earthquake’s natural forces but significantly to decades of political unrest, economic hardship, and infrastructural fragility that have left communities exceptionally vulnerable. Experts from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) have undertaken a rigorous damage assessment shedding light on the complex interplay of geophysical and socio-political factors underpinning this tragedy.
The UNU-INWEH report highlights that over 13,000 buildings sustained either severe damage or complete collapse within a 50-kilometer radius from the earthquake’s epicenter. Villages in the affected zone suffered near-total devastation, with some losing upwards of 90% of their housing stock. The overwhelming majority of structures in this earthquake-prone region consist of mud bricks and rudimentary stone constructions, lacking seismic resilience or modern engineering principles. This construction typology, combined with decades of economic deprivation, has left inhabitants with dwellings particularly susceptible to even moderate seismic shaking.
Seismic experts emphasize the earthquake’s shallow focal depth of approximately 8 kilometers beneath the surface. Such shallow earthquakes generate intense ground accelerations directly beneath populated areas, exacerbating structural damage. Compounding the problem, the tremor struck just before midnight, a time when residents were indoors and asleep, markedly increasing casualties as buildings gave way without warning. This timing, coupled with pre-existing ground saturation caused by weeks of heavy monsoon rainfall, triggered landslides that not only devastated villages but also hampered rescue and relief operations by blocking vital roadways.
Afghanistan’s prolonged conflict and political instability have severely impeded progress in disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure development. The Taliban’s ascendancy in 2021 further isolated the country diplomatically and economically, leading to a significant reduction in international aid flows. This isolation crippled emergency response capabilities at a critical moment when humanitarian assistance was urgently needed. The UNU-INWEH assessment underscores that a fragile governance environment and dwindling financial support have severely handicapped both mitigation and response mechanisms.
The report also draws attention to the disproportionate suffering of women and girls in the aftermath of the earthquake. Gender-based restrictions deeply entrenched in Afghan society restrict women’s access to timely healthcare, especially when female patients are prohibited from being treated by male doctors without a chaperone. Furthermore, bans on female education in medicine and restrictions on female aid workers limited the availability of female healthcare professionals, compounding barriers to essential medical care for women and girls trapped in disaster zones.
From a geophysical perspective, ground deformation measurements using satellite and geospatial technologies recorded surface displacements of up to 23 centimeters during the mainshock. A significant aftershock on September 4 added approximately 17 centimeters of ground movement in affected areas, prolonging structural instabilities and complicating recovery efforts. This precision geospatial data was crucial in mapping the most impacted zones and coordinating targeted relief and rebuilding initiatives.
The combination of geology, infrastructure vulnerability, and socio-political constraints presented a perfect storm for tragedy. Traditional construction materials and building techniques in Kunar Province, while customary, failed to withstand the dynamic stresses imposed by the earthquake. With slopes already saturated by monsoonal rains, the resulting landslides displaced communities and blocked crucial access routes, delaying aid and leaving survivors isolated.
Disaster experts warn that without sustained international engagement and investment in resilient infrastructure, Afghanistan remains perilously exposed to future seismic events. The UNU-INWEH team advocates for a comprehensive approach embedding seismic risk reduction within urban planning, engineering, and social frameworks. This includes enforcing building codes adapted to local seismic hazard profiles and integrating gender-sensitive disaster response protocols to ensure that vulnerable groups receive equitable assistance.
Moreover, the report brings forth the critical need to reform global humanitarian frameworks to decouple the provision of disaster relief from political considerations. Afghanistan’s diplomatic isolation significantly shortened the reach and effectiveness of global aid agencies, illustrating how geopolitical factors can exacerbate natural disaster impacts. Ensuring that populations under sanctioned or politically contentious regimes are not excluded from life-saving humanitarian aid is essential for global disaster resilience.
This earthquake has delivered a stark reminder that seismic hazards transcend physical phenomena and demand integrated approaches that address infrastructure, governance, social equity, and international cooperation. The compelling case of Kunar Province underscores how socio-economic fragility and political isolation amplify natural disasters’ toll, turning moderate tremors into catastrophic human suffering.
Looking ahead, the UNU-INWEH findings call for urgent, collaborative global efforts to rebuild Afghanistan’s disaster management systems, paired with long-term investments in health, education, and infrastructure to fortify communities. Only through such multifaceted efforts can similar calamities be mitigated in the future, ensuring safer living conditions for millions caught in the seismic crosshairs of this geopolitically complex region.
The earthquake in Afghanistan’s eastern borderlands represents a convergence of natural forces with human vulnerabilities shaped by history and policy. Seismologists and humanitarian experts alike agree that investments in resilient construction and inclusive disaster response, alongside political engagement, are imperative to reduce future calamities. As this region faces a prolonged recovery, the lessons learned offer critical insights into disaster risk management in geopolitically fragile zones worldwide.
Subject of Research: Damage Assessment and Socio-Political Impact of the August 2025 Earthquake in Afghanistan
Article Title: Damage Assessment of Afghanistan’s August 2025 Earthquake
News Publication Date: 18 September 2025
Web References:
https://collections.unu.edu/eserv/UNU:10335/UNU_INWEH_INCIDENT_BRIEF_Afg_Earthquake_2025.pdf
https://unu.edu/inweh/collection/damage-assessment-afghanistans-august-2025-earthquake
References:
Shirzaei, M., Daqiq, M. T., Lucy, J., Werth, S., Sharma, R., Velasco, M. J., Matin, M., Madani, K. (2025). Damage Assessment of Afghanistan’s August 2025 Earthquake. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, doi: 10.53328/INR25MSIR002
Keywords: Earthquakes, Seismology, Disaster Risk Reduction, Infrastructure Vulnerability, Gender and Disaster, Humanitarian Aid, Afghanistan Earthquake 2025, Geospatial Analysis, Political Isolation, Human Security
