Afghanistan earthquake death toll over 1,400 – please pray

Devastating earthquakes have hit Afghanistan, causing over 1,400 deaths and injuring more than 3,000. It’s not known how many, or even if any Christians have been caught up in the disaster. Please pray.

On Sunday night (31 August), a powerful earthquake hit Afghanistan in the north eastern part of the country, close to the Pakistan border, near heavily populated areas in the province of Kunar. It’s not known how many Christians are caught up in the disaster, if any, as they are forced to live underground.

The magnitude-six earthquake killed more than 1,400 people, injured over 3,000 and reduced nearly 5,500 homes to rubble. These numbers are likely to rise.

• What’s it like to be a Christian in Afghanistan?

The devastation caused by the quake led the Taliban authorities to call for international help to rescue the dead and injured; however, Russia is the only country that has officially recognised the Taliban government. Heavy rain and landslides have hampered rescue efforts, damaging roads and making relief efforts to the already hard-to-reach mountainous areas even harder.

The situation worsened on Tuesday (2 September) when a second earthquake struck, causing further damage. It’s the third major earthquake since 2021 to hit Afghanistan, causing further misery to a population already struggling with economic hardship, food shortages and ever-more restricted freedoms.

Please join us in praying for Afghanistan: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” (Psalm 57:1).