Pope Leo XIV expressed his condolences for the more than 800 dead that left the powerful earthquake that shook east of Afghanistan on Sunday night, with a magnitude of 6 on the Richter scale, also causing a generalized destruction.
According to local authorities, more than 800 people have died and 1,500 were injured, especially in the districts of Nurgal, Sawkay, Watapur, Dara Pech and Chapi Dara.
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The Pope, deeply affected
“Deeply affected by the significant loss of human lives caused by the earthquake in the area of eastern Afghanistan, his holiness Pope Leo XIV offers fervent prayers for the souls of the deceased, by the injured and by those who are still missing,” says the telegram sent in the name of the Pontiff.
In the telegram, signed by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, it is stated that the Pontiff entrusts “to all those affected by this disaster to the providence of the Almighty.”
Likewise, the Pope expresses “his most sincere solidarity, in particular with whom they cry the loss of loved ones and with emergency personnel and civil authorities involved in rescue and recovery work.”
The main earthquake, registered around midnight, was followed by two magnitude replicas 5.2. The United States Geological Service reported that the epicenter stood 27 kilometers east of the province of Nangarhar, at a depth of eight kilometers, which normally amplifies destructive power.
Adobe and stone houses facilitated the collapse
According to the Afghan News Agency Khaama Pressthe earthquake destroyed several whole locations, because the hypocenter was near the surface since many homes were built with stones and adobe.
At the moment, rescue teams continue to work to locate survivors between the debris, although they ensure that operations are hindered by land landslides that have blocked key roads.
The Vice Minister of Information and spokesman for the Taliban, Zabihulá Muahid, wrote in his account in the social network X that “local officials and residents are involved in rescue work and all resources available to save lives will be used.”
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.