500 acres of land allocated for 2,500 quake-affected families in Kunar

KABUL (Pajhwok): Under a special decree from the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), 500 acres of land in Gambiri desert, Shewa district of eastern Nangarhar, have been allocated for 2,500 families affected by the Kunar earthquake.

The earthquake struck on August 31 around midnight, affecting Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Panjshir, and Nuristan provinces. It measured 6.0 on the Richter scale with a shallow depth of 8 km. The epicenter was in Nurgal district of Kunar, which suffered the most damage.

Government figures indicate that the quake killed 2,205 people and injured 3,640 in Kunar; 12 people died and 255 were injured in Nangarhar; and 80 were injured in Laghman. A total of 6,782 homes were destroyed.

The Nangarhar media office said the allocated land in Gambiri Desert will soon be distributed among the 2,500 affected families.

Nangarhar Governor Mullah Mohammad Naeem Akhund has instructed authorities to ensure the development of roads, parks, mosques, schools, clinics, and other essential infrastructure in the area.

A Pajhwok report published on September 26, 2025, cited analysts and locals, noting that the Kunar earthquake was particularly deadly due to its shallow depth and the non-standard construction of homes on mountain slopes.

The quake struck suddenly at midnight, while many people were asleep, and poor road access delayed rescue operations. Analysts and residents have urged that properly constructed homes be provided to the affected families to prevent similar disasters in the future.

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